The supposed ability of certain healers, especially in the Philippines, to use paranormal ability to perform surgery without anesthesia, antiseptics, or tools. There was usually blood and the “surgeon” appeared to put his hand in the person and pull out “tumors” or other problems. Unfortunately, the techniques were often faked and people needing surgery didn’t receive it, leading to fatal results. The expression, however, became popular and some people refer to any sort of psychic healing as “psychic surgery.”