History of local anaesthesia

Abstract

Local anaesthesia has evolved from ancient herbal remedies and crude numbing techniques to the scientific breakthroughs of the 19th and 20th centuries, beginning with the discovery of cocaine’s anaesthetic properties and progressing to the development of safer synthetic agents. Its history reflects advances in pharmacology, surgical practice, and patient safety, transforming pain management and enabling modern surgical and dental procedures to be performed with precision and minimal discomfort.