According to the Kardec-influenced espiritistas, not all diseases or discomforts require psychic surgery. There are times when the espiritistas perform magnetic healing on a patient or merely massage the afflicted part with blessed oil, channeling the healing power of the Holy Spirit.
“The System of Healing Used by the Filipino Espiritistas” by Dr. Scott M. Taubold offers a deep cultural and psychological exploration of spiritual healing practices in the Philippines, focusing especially on the traditions of the espiritistas — Filipino spirit healers who claim to channel spiritual agency in their healing work. Proudly published by Citi of Books, this is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retail platforms.
Scott Matthew Taubold, Ph, D., born in 1955, spent most of his life in a small isolated community in Northern California. After obtaining an AA degree in the early 70s in General Education, “later in life” Dr. Taubold continued his education. In 1993 Dr. Taubold moved to Hawaii where he worked as a counselor and case manager to support himself through school. In Hawaii he was exposed to a “melting pot” of cultures, people who did not respond well to conventional psychological models of treatment but did respond positively to own their indigenous healing systems. There was a lot of support for learning about the effectiveness of indigenous healing systems at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu where Dr, Taubold obtained his Bachelor degree in Social Science with a concentration in psychology in 1995, and in the Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology program at Chaminade University in Honolulu where Dr. Taubold obtained his Masters degree in 1997.
Following his return to Northern California Dr. Taubold enrolled in a distance learning program, Saybrook University of San Francisco and obtained a Ph. D. in Humanistic Psychology in May 2003 after completing this dissertation titled. Dr. Taubold has traveled to the Philippines in 1995, 2000, 20001, and 2003 to study the indigenous healing practices in the Philippines. Since then Dr. Taubold continues to study complimentary and alternative forms of medicine and indigenous healing systems, offers himself as a consultant on his website ww.psychicsurgery.net., and is continuing to write providing practical advice to people who are seeking alternative forms of health treatment.
Dr. Taubold’s work draws on his training in humanistic psychology, research travels to the Philippines, and a framework aligned with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) criteria. Rather than simply summarizing supernatural anecdotes, he places these healing systems in context — culturally, historically, and theoretically — with respect for how Filipino healers themselves articulate their own practices.
The book begins with an exploration of why Filipino healing traditions — especially those involving espiritistas and so-called psychic surgery — have fascinated and perplexed Western observers since the 1950s. Taubold frames these practices within indigenous meanings of illness and healing, rather than filtering them solely through Western biomedical or parapsychological lenses.
This book is a cross-cultural examination of traditional Filipino healing practices that have long existed outside Western scientific paradigms. Dr. Taubold shows how espiritistas — practitioners who claim to engage with spiritual realms and discarnate entities — understand the causes and cures of illness in ways that emphasize the interplay between consciousness, spirit, and body. These traditions challenge modern assumptions about medicine and healing by framing the healing process as a cultural, spiritual, and relational phenomenon rather than merely a biological one.
“The System of Healing Used by the Filipino Espiritistas” invites readers into a dialogue between cultural tradition and modern inquiry. Through its thoughtful exploration of Filipino spiritual healing, it encourages a broader, more inclusive view of what healing can mean — one that honors the wisdom carried by communities over generations and invites contemporary readers to think more deeply about the intersections of spirit, culture, and health.
Grab your copy of “The System of Healing Used by the Filipino Espiritistas” by Dr. Scott Matthew Taubold through the buttons below: