**Abstract**

In Ayurveda, treatment with intentional therapeutic heat burns is called *Agnikarma* (thermal cauterization), which is one of the para-surgical procedures. It is also called *Dahan Karma* (thermal cauterization). Various painful conditions like joint pain, sciatica, tendinopathies, headache, abdominal cramps/discomfort, and few convulsive disorders like epilepsy, schizophrenia, psycho-somatic disorders, and some skin diseases can be treated with this intentional heat burn therapy. *Agnikarma* has widely been used in clinical practice since time immemorial and is said to have immediate and long-lasting relief, as mentioned in the Indian traditional therapy. This para-surgical procedure is practiced in all teaching institutes of Ayurveda in India, and many researchers are publishing the research work done on *Agnikarma* in musculo-skeletal disorders. In this chapter, the concept of *Agnikarma* along with a brief procedure and published evidence-based research studies on osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint treated with *Agnikarma* are critically analyzed. This chapter contributes the knowledge of the Indian traditional para-surgical procedure in musculoskeletal disorders in general and OA knee joint in particular.

**Keywords:** *Agnikarma*, ayurveda, OA knee joint
