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).

• Guidelines for Using Complementary and Alternative Methods

• How to Know What Is Safe: Choosing and Using Dietary Supplements

• The ACS Operational Statement on Complementary and Alternative Methods of Cancer Management

• Complementary and Alternative Methods for Cancer Management

• Placebo Effect

• Learning About New Ways to Treat Cancer

• Learning About New Ways to Prevent Cancer

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