Agnikarma

has been explained as one among the

anushastras

. Almost all

ayurvedic

classics have described the use of it in curing different disorders as

pradhanakarma

and in some disorders as

paschathkarma

to cure the complications. Its importance lies in its action, because of its ability to cure those diseases also, which can’t be cured by the

bheshaja

,

shastra

and

ksharakarma

. In this paper an insight view on

agnikarma

has been compiled and presented systematically.

The word

Agnikarma

is made up of two words i.e.,

Agni

and

Karma

. Agni, the musculine word derived from the root agigatau agyati agnayamna prapyanti. i.e., it gives the rebirth, is utilised to cure and prevent the diseases. Agni is the important one among the pancha mahabhutas. The Agni, in the form of bhootagni, jatharagni and dhatwagni is the life for the creatures. On the basis of the loka – purusha sadharmya, the Agni that exists in the body, possesses the same properties as that of Agni in the world. So any procedure that involves the Agni directly or indirectly is considered under

agnikarma

.

The

agnikarma

is also known by different names like

dahanakarma

,

dahakarma

,

dagdhakarma

,

jalanakarma

and

pachanakarma

, finds its role in the vataja and kaphaja vyadhi involving the dhatu that are predominant with pruthvi and ap mahabhutha. Mere utilization of

agnikarma

, which is counted in anushastra, upayantra and shashti upakrama, provides Shalyatantra the unique position among the eight faculties of

Ayurveda

.

Agnikarma

can be utilised – As preventive measure, as curative measure, as postoperative procedure, and as haemostatic measure.