AGNIKARMA: A TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUE WITH MODERN RELEVANCE- A LITERARY REVIEW

Ayurveda, the science of life has not only been known for its medicinal goodness but also for its surgical and parasurgical procedures. Agnikarma, a parasurgical and therapeutic procedure that uses heat or thermal cauterization for treating various disorders like, medaja granthi (lipoma), kadara (corn), charmakeela (skin warts) and many more. Modern cauterization method uses electric current in obtaining hemostasis during surgeries, in removal of skin warts, skin tags etc. Both the treatment modalities use the same fundamental concept of consuming energy to destroy dead or diseased tissue. This study comprises of comparison between the Ayurveda and modern literary reviews regarding Agnikarma. Agnikarma originated in Vedic period where Agni (fire) was used as a healing and purifying agent.