THE AYURVEDIC PAIN KILLER - AGNIKARMA

By Dr.Santhosh Kumar.S,

BAMS,DHNE,DHHM

Introduction

In this modern era re-existence of disease has become common after administration of most effective palliative medical treatments,chemical cauterization and bloodletting. cauterization and bloodletting acts as substitute to surgical procedures .Ayurveda considers elimination of doshas as the prime treatment for the diseases. Acharya sushruta , father of the classical and modern surgery has mentioned that para-surgical procedures are many a times helpful in curing various diseases.Bheshaja Karma, shastra Karma ,Kshara Karma and Agni karma as different method of management in diseased conditions. Application of agni or heat direct or indirect to the affected part with the help of different materials to relive the patient from various forms of pain.It is believed that any disease treated with the help of agni karma ( thermal cautery ) doesn't re-occur and doesn’t get infected easily.In this modern era agni karma is compared to cauterization & its various forms. it is advocated as a part of post operative procedure to ensure sterilization and aseptic condition.Cauterization is a process in which cautery is done to burn body part to close or remove by destroying some tissues in process of mitigating damage  and remove undesired growth.In modern Cautery means metal device heated to glow red hot to produce blister to stop bleeding from vessels. But in Ayurveda it is not only a procedure to stop bleeding by burning vessels, but it is complete treatment which substitutes medical and surgical treatment.

The word Agni karma is made of two words ‘Agni’ & ‘Karma’:-

Agni is one of the important pancha mahabhutha ,agni is present as bhootagni , jatharagni & dhatwagni in this human creature. Dhanakarma , dahakarma, dagdhakarma , Agni chikitsa ,Damsha kriya ,vahnidagdha ,jalanakarma & pachanakarma are various terminology used for its nomenclature.

Agni karma is used as  preventive ,curative , post operative & haemostatic measures.

History

Time	Context	Application
Rig Veda	Obstertic & gynecological disorder	To get rid of micro organisms in  vagina & uterus to save fetus from infections.
Atharva Veda	Indentified &Worshipped as god	As Disinfectant
Yajur Veda	Symbolized Agni	In treatment of Sheeta related disorder
Sam Veda	Agenneya Kanda	Despriction of agni
Samhita Kala	Charaka - Shastra Pranidhan chikitsa	Granthi,visarpa,arsh,bhagandra etc
	Sushruta - upyantra	Apachi ,granthi,bhagandra etc
Sangraha Kala	Vrudhha vagbhatta	Mentioned in pain management and its importance in surgical procedure
	Vagbhatta
Modern Era	Hipocratic Corpus	Cauterization
	Cauterize	Cautarize Arteries
	Ambroise Pare	Cauterization as alternative to Ligature
	Modern physicians	To check bleeding ,laser prostatectomy , skin disease etc

Materials Used for Agni Karma :-

             

           

Types Of Dahanupkarnas :-

A ) Based On Origin :

Types of origin	Dahanupkarna
Plant origin	Pippali , Yastimadhu , Haridra,Guda,Sneha
Animal Origin	Godant , Ajashakrida
Metallic Origin	Shara & Shalakas made of Gold , silver ,Tamra,Rajat,Loha & Panchadhatu

B ) Based On Site Of Application:

Site of Dahna	Materials Used For Dahna
Superficial Disorder of Twak or skin	Pippali ,Ajashakrida,Godant , shara & Shalaka
Mamsa Dagdha or muscle related disorder	Jambavoshtha and other dhatu are used.
Sira or Veins , Sanyu or Ligaments ,Sandhi or joints ,Asthi or Bones	Kshoudra , Guda or sneha dravya are used

Indications :-

Agni karma in indicated in disease where twaka , mamsa , sira , sanaya , asthi & sandhi are involved and causing severe pain to due vitiation of vata.Agni karma can be extended to enormous diseases like granthi,arshas , arbuda,gradhrasi etc.

Contraindications :-

Agni karma is contraindicated in Nishidha Rogi and Kala.

Nishidha Rogi - Prakruti Pitta & Diseases like -Raktapitta, Epistaxis, Atisara, Durbala

and Bhiru.

Nishidha Kala - Sharad Ritu, Grishma Ritu.

Classification : - 

        Based on Dhanaupkarna

                                           

Perfomed With	Location
Snigdha Performed With Grihta, Taila, Madhu	Sira, Sanayu, Asthi, Sandhi
Rooksha Performd With Godanta, Shalaka, Shara, AjaShakrida, Pippali	Twak, Mamsa

Based On Aakriti or Shape

Valaya Or Round

Bindu Or Dot-Like

Vilekha Or Linear Pattern

Pratisarana Or Without any pattern

Based on Site

Twaka Dagdha

Mamsa Dagdha

Sira Sanayu Dagdha

Sandhi Asthi Dagdha

Method :-

Assessment of Disease and Patient, Agni karma is carried out.

                                                                   Pre-Operative

    Without Food                                                                       With Food  

                                                   

Agni Karma is done with desired Upakarna according to the strength of patient

Post -Operative- 

Application of Ghrita and madhu

Assessment Of Agnikarma :-

Assessment is done  according to the site at which it is performed, it is known as samyaka Dagdha lakshana.It Includes : 

ØTwak Dagdha Lakshanas : Shabda Pradrubhava (Skin Crackles with sound ) ,  Twak Sankocha ( retraction of skin ) ,Dourgandhya ( foul skin ) from the site .

ØMamsa Dagdha Lakshanas :Kapota Varna ( pigeon colour ) ,alpa shavyathu & vedana ( minimal inflammation & pain ) ,shushka & sunkuchita mamsa ( dry & wrinkled ).

       ØSira Sanayu Dagdha Lakshanas : Krishna unnat ( Black Colour ).

ØSandhi Asthi Dagdha Lakshanas: Ruksha ( dry ), arunta ( red ) , Karkasha (rough ).

Conculsion :-

Agni karma is one among the anushastras.It is considered as Pradhanakarma & Paschatkarma according to the need of disease.Due to action of agnikarma it is considered as prime i,e those diseases which can't be cured by beshaja , shastras and ksharakarma , can be cured by agni karma. Proper knowledge of agni karma can help the vaidya to perform it without any complications.