Anesthesia involves the use of 3 classes of medication-
1. Anesthesia
2. Analgesia
3. Muscle relaxants (depending on type of surgery and assessment by anesthesiologist)
Use of such medication by untrained people is potentially disastrous hence this reply will be brief. Do discuss any further queries with your friendly anesthesiologist prior to surgery.
Anesthetic drugs are used to induce and maintain the state of 'deep sleep', loss of reflexes and amnesia.
Analgesic medication reduces the pain response. This is not just numbing the body to pain as most welness practitioners may suggest. Reduction of pain improves post surgical recovery by improving breathing ( reducing risk of pneumonia) and facilitating physiotherapy etc.
Muscle relaxants are essential especially in fine microscopic surgery where a totally immobile foeld of surgery is essential. Muscle relaxants also aid jn the induction of anesthesia.
I hope this helps!
