Penn and Teller Bullshit Season 6 Episode 2 New Age Medicine

In season 6 episode 2 of Penn and Teller: Bullshit!, the titular magicians take aim at the world of New Age medicine. With the help of a number of medical professionals and skeptics, they set out to take a closer look at some of the most popular alternative therapies in circulation today.

Their first stop is a visit to a group of energy healers, who claim to be able to manipulate the body's energy fields to cure illness. Penn and Teller are visibly skeptical as they watch these healers wave their hands over a patient's body, supposedly channeling universal life force energy to promote healing. They bring in a physicist to explain why the idea of energy healing defies scientific laws, and also demonstrate the placebo effect by administering a fake treatment that the subject believes to be real.

The magicians next pay a visit to a practitioner of crystal healing, who uses stones to balance the body's energy. They quickly point out the lack of scientific evidence for crystal healing, and the tendency for crystal practitioners to use vague language that's hard to pin down or verify. The magician's next stop is a session of acupuncture, in which they demonstrate the placebo effect once again by using fake needles that the subject believes to be real.

In between their investigations, Penn and Teller sprinkle in various bits of humor and commentary, poking fun at the absurdity of some New Age beliefs and challenging viewers to think critically about what they're told. They also interview a number of patients and practitioners who swear by alternative medicine, but who often struggle to explain exactly how their methods work.

Throughout the episode, Penn and Teller take great care to differentiate between legitimate, evidence-based alternative therapies and those that are less scientifically sound. They also emphasize the importance of consulting with a qualified medical professional before using any alternative therapy, and they provide resources for viewers who want to learn more about the various treatments they've discussed.

Overall, Penn and Teller: Bullshit!'s investigation into New Age medicine is a balanced and informative look at a topic that's often shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, this episode is sure to prompt some interesting and thought-provoking discussions about the limits of modern medicine and the power of the human mind.