Agnikarma in Shalya Tantra: Translational Reappraisal of a Classical Thermal Intervention Through Contemporary Biomedical Mechanisms

Background: Agnikarma, a para-surgical intervention described in Ayurvedic Shalya Tantra, employs controlled therapeutic heat for managing Vata-Kapha dominant disorders.1,2 Despite extensive classical documentation, its biological basis remains underexplored within modern translational frameworks. Objective: To critically reinterpret Agnikarma through integration of classical Ayurvedic doctrine and contemporary biomedical mechanisms. Methods: A narrative-critical review was conducted using classical Ayurvedic treatises and PubMed-indexed biomedical literature. Mechanistic mapping correlated Agnikarma principles with wound biology, neurophysiology, and inflammatory modulation.6,15,25 Results: Evidence suggests plausible mechanisms including thermal coagulation11, TRPV1-mediated nociceptor modulation13,14, cytokine-mediated inflammatory regulation15, and fibroblast-driven tissue remodelling.16–18 Clinical parallels exist in hemorrhoidal therapy20, dermatologic lesion ablation21, and chronic wound care.22 Conclusion: Agnikarma represents a structured thermal modulation technique with translational relevance. Scientific validation through standardized protocols and controlled trials is essential for global integration.