References of Agnikarma (Thermal Cautery) from ancient Ayurvedic textbooks:
1. त्वऽ.मांससिरास्नायुसंध्यस्थिस्थितेऽत्युग्ररुजि वायौ ।
Thermal Cautery should be done in presence of very severe pain in the skin, muscles, veins, ligaments, joints and bones caused by vata (aggravation).
(SUSHRUTA SAMHITA – SUTRASTHANA – CHAPTER 12, VERSE 10)
2. तद्दग्धानां रोगाणामपुनर्भवात् भेषजशस्त्रक्षारैरसाध्यानां तत्साध्यत्वाच्च ।
Diseases treated by thermal cautery will not recur again and also because those diseases which are incurable by the use of medicines, sharp instruments and alkalis will be cured by fire (thermal cautery).
(SUSHRUTA SAMHITA – SUTRASTHANA – CHAPTER 12, VERSE 3)
3. स्नेहोपनाहाग्निकर्मबन्धनोन्मर्दनानि च ।
स्नायुसन्ध्यस्थिप्राप्ते कुर्यात् वायावतन्द्रितः ।॥
When vata is found affecting ligaments, joints and bones, then therapies such as sneha (oleation), Upanaha (warm poultice), agnikarma (thermal cautery), bandhana (bandaging), unmardana (hard massaging, squeezing or trampling on the body part) should be done.
(SUSHRUTA SAMHITA – CHIKITSASTHANA – CHAPTER 4, VERSE 8)
4. अग्निः क्षारादपि श्रेष्ठस्तदग्धानामसंभवात् ।
भेषजक्षारशस्त्रैश्च न सिद्धानां प्रसाधनात् ॥
Thermal cautery is better than even alkali, for the diseases burnt by it (treated) do not recur and it can be used even (in diseases) which have not been successfully treated by drugs, alkalis and surgery.
(ASHTANGA HRIDAYA – SUTRASHANA – CHAPTER 30, VERSE 40)
5. त्वचि मांसे सिरास्नायुसंध्यस्थिषु स युज्यते ।
It is used on the skin, muscle, vein, tendon, joints and bones.
(ASHTANGA HRIDAYA – SUTRASTHANA – CHAPTER 30, VERSE 41)
6. स्नावसन्धिशिराप्राप्ते स्नेहदाहोपनाहनम् ।
When vata is found affecting ligaments, joints and vein, then it should be treated by sneha (oleation), daaha (thermal cautery) and upanaaha (warm poultices).
(ASHTANGA HRIDAYA – CHIKITSASTHANA – CHAPTER 21, VERSE 22)
7. स्वेदोपनाहाग्निकर्मबन्धनोन्मर्दनानि च ।
क्रुद्धे स्नायुगते वाते कारयेत् कुशलो भिषक् ॥
When vata is found affecting ligaments, then therapies such as sveda (hot fomentation), Upanaha (warm poultice), agnikarma (thermal cautery), bandhana (bandaging), unmardana (hard massaging, squeezing or trampling on the body part) should be done.
(BHAVAPRAKASHA – VATAVYADHI CHIKITSA – VERSE 257)
8. कुर्यात् सन्धिगते वाते दाहस्नेहोपनाहनम् ।
When sandhi (joints) are affected by vata, then it should be treated with daha (thermal cautery), sneha (oleation) and upanaha (warm poultices).
(BHAVAPRAKASHA – VATAVYADHI CHIKITSA – VERSE 259)
9. स्नेहोपनाहग्निकर्मबन्धनोन्मर्दनानि च ।
स्नायुसंध्यस्थिसंप्राप्ते कुर्यात् वाते विचक्षणः ॥
When vata is affecting the snayu(ligaments), sandhi(joints), and asthi (bones), it should be treated with sneha (oleation), Agnikarma (thermal cautery), bandhana (bandaging) and unmardana (hard massaging ,squeezing or trampling on the body part).