Utility of Kshar in Shalya - Shalakya Tantra

In the present era, plant derived products are gaining importance as medicinal products, nutraceuticals and cosmetics. Herbal medicines are widely used in healthcare in both developed and developing countries. Ayurveda, ‘the science of life’ utilizes different forms of herbs in therapeutics and is largely depends upon the medicinal plants for the therapy. The use of herbal medicines has increased remarkably in line with the global trend of people returning to natural therapies. Kshar is one among such forms.
Acharya Sushruta known as ‘father of Surgery’ has described various surgical process along with parasurgical measures in Sushruta Samhita, which is the oldest available text in surgical practice, enriched with detailed basic surgical techniques and parasurgical measures. Raktamokshan, Kshar karma, Agni karma is amongest of these parasurgical procedures.These procedures have been given special place in surgery by Acharya Sushruta and it is belived that the disease that cannot be cured by any medicine or in subjects where surgery is not possible these processes are very much effective.
Kshar karma is a topic of shalya pradhan text but due to its medicinal and therapeutic use, it is mentioned in all eight branches of Ayurveda in the treatment of various diseases. Among different branches of Ayurveda, Shalya Tantra along with Shalakya Tantra are shalya pradhan texts which come under Dhanwantari sampradaya.