A study on the role of Agni Karma (Cauterization) in the management of chronic wounds

Abstract

Agni Karma is one of the important parasurgical procedures described in Ayurvedic Samhita. Sushruta, Charaka and Vagbhata describe the role of Agni karma in debilitating disorders. Vagbhata even termed it as the best amongst all kind of therapeutic procedures in Ayurvedic armory because of nonrecurrence. Despite many new tools and techniques dealing with chronic wounds is still a major clinical challenge to the medical fraternity. Sushruta advices sixty procedures for the management of wound healing; Agni Karma is one of them. Charaka specially advocated the role of Agnikarma in the management of chronic wounds. Keeping this in mind a careful review of ayurvedic literature was done along with modern electrical cauterization. It was found that Agni karma has many advantages over actual cautery and is one of the safest methods to be used for the management of chronic wounds.