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Other common
name(s): none
Scientific/medical
name(s): none
Description
Psychic surgery is used to remove spirits or physical
manifestations of spiritual problems from a patient by the use of bare
fingers and hands without any actual surgery.
Overview
Psychic surgeons create the illusion that they can remove
tumors, unhealthy tissue, and organs by making an invisible incision
using only their fingers and hands. Available scientific evidence does
not support claims that psychic surgery offers any value to people with
cancer or any other disease.
How is it promoted for use?
Some psychic surgeons claim they can cure cancer and other
serious illnesses by removing tumors or other unhealthy tissue from a
patient's body without leaving an incision or wound.
What does it involve?
No anesthesia or surgical instruments are used in psychic
surgery. During the procedure, practitioners appear to press their
fingers and hands into the patient's body (usually the abdomen) in
order to remove tissue, tumors, or other material that is believed to
be making the patient sick. The practitioners often show their bloodied
hands or objects supposedly removed from the body to patients as proof
of their ability to enter the body without surgical instruments. Close
observers have noted that the removed material is often cotton or
another object soaked in animal blood. They have reported seeing the
psychic surgeon remove the materials from a plastic bag or other
container hidden so as not to be seen by the patient and others.
Some psychic surgeons hold up objects such as animal organs,
fatty tumors, and other materials that are presented as human organs.
In Filipino cultures, where people believe in evil spirits that can put
foreign objects into a person’s body, the psychic surgeon may
display palm leaves, glass, or corncobs they supposedly removed from
the patient. Practitioners will then "close" the wound using their
fingers and hands and wipe the blood away. During the procedure,
patients feel no pain. The patient is asked to stand and walk
immediately after the procedure has ended. The skin shows no scars or
wounds where the "incision" has been made.
Although some psychic surgeons publicly claim that they charge
no fees, they may ask for large donations from patients who have money.
What is the history behind it?
Psychic surgery began in rural parts of the Philippines during
the twentieth century. In the 1940s, Phillipines-native Eleuterio Terte
was reportedly the first person to perform psychic surgery. Medical
anthropologists have described the development of psychic surgery as a
transition from traditional shamanism. Some shamans learned to use
animal parts and blood as part of a dramatic ritual to remove the
effects of evil spirits.
Legal authorities have convicted some psychic surgeons for
practicing medicine without a license and others for fraud. Psychic
surgery is mainly practiced in the Philippines and Brazil, although it
sometimes it is done in the United States. In the United States,
practitioners may claim that psychic surgery is part of their religious
practice in an attempt to avoid prosecution. To receive psychic
surgery, some Americans travel abroad, where it is practiced in the
original surroundings of religious and traditional healing.
What is the evidence?
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that
psychic surgery has any medical value. It has never been known to
remove tumors or cure cancer or any other disease. In fact, following
up on people who had cancerous tumors "removed" in this way revealed
that the tumors were still present. Some patients also report being
told that the psychic surgeon had removed their cancer, when in fact
the patient never had cancer at all.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
People should be aware that claims made by practitioners of
psychic surgery have not been proven. There has been at least one
report of a psychic surgeon in the Philippines who uses human blood for
this procedure. There is a very slight chance of infection with HIV or
hepatitis if human blood (instead of animal blood) is used by a psychic
surgeon.
Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or
delaying traditional medical care for cancer may have serious health
consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
Barrett S, Herbert V. Questionable cancer therapies.
Quackwatch Web site. Accessed at
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/cancer.html on July
6, 2001. Accessed May 30, 2008.
Cassileth B. The
Alternative Medicine Handbook: The Complete Reference Guide to
Alternative and Complementary Therapies. New York, NY:
W.W. Norton; 1998.
Psychic surgery. BC Cancer Agency Web site. Accessed at
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/HPI/UnconventionalTherapies/PsychicSurgery.htm
on June 2, 2008.
True GN II. The facts about faith healing and psychic surgery.
True Health Web site. Accessed at
http://georgenavatrue.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2C2DFB94368AB40F!113.entry
on June 3, 2008.
US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. Unconventional Cancer
Treatments: OTA-H-405. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office;
1990.
Note: This information may not cover
all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or
interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be
relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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