HILOT, FILIPINO TRADITIONAL ART OF HEALING

Hilot is a Filipino traditional art of healing derived from our folk system of medicine that existed long before the coming of the Spaniards and the introduction of modern medicine. To understand hilot, it is imperative that we look into the general concepts of our folk system of medicine.

I. Folk Medicine General Concepts of Health and Illness (Late 60’s to early 70’s)

The following are general principles observed by our folk system of medicine in understanding health and illness.

A. Nature (“Panahon”: Time, Season, Weather Conditions) influences man’s health
Filipino traditional medicine believes that time and condition of nature greatly influence the health of the person. To remain healthy, one must learn to abide by the law of nature or at least know how to deal with the changes in the weather condition that can affect his health. The following are some of the popular concepts that support this view:
 “Taking a bath in the morning improves one’s health; while taking a bath in the afternoon most especially when the sun is about to set, can make a person anemic.”
 “There are ailments which are seasonal in nature, when it is their time to come, one will just have to be ready to deal with them.” Cough and colds, sore eyes, mumps are some of the ailments which are looked upon as seasonal in nature.
 “Rheumatic pain attacks when it is about to rain.” Lolo’s and Lola’s can’t do anything but get ready with their “oil” when it is about to rain.

B. Hot and Cold Syndrome adversely affects man’s health
Filipino traditional medicine believes that hot and cold elements affect one’s health. Illness is caused by hot or cold elements that enter the body through the pores of the skin, food consumed, air or vapor inhaled that cause imbalance or disequilibrium inside the body. Here are some of our traditional “hot and cold syndrome” concepts.

 “Usbong ng lupa” right after a rainfall can cause nausea or headache.”
 “Eating “cold” fruits in the morning can cause stomach discomfort or indigestion;
 “Over-eating of “hot” fruits or food can cause skin rashes.”
 “Washing of hands and feet, or taking a bath when one is tired (a tired body is hot) can cause pasma syndrome, a condition characterized by unsteadiness of nerves and muscles of the afflicted parts of the body.”
 “Going to sleep while the hair is still wet can cause the heat to come up to the head and may result to insanity”
 “Drinking cold water or fruit juice considered “cold” like buko juice, when one has fever can cause further imbalances to the system.”
 “One, who just had a bout with severe sickness such as typhoid fever, influenza and the likes, must mix the water with boiled herbs when taking a bath for the first time to protect himself from pasma.

C. There are Discomforts or Ailments that are caused by Supernatural Elements
Filipino folk medicine believes that there are discomforts and illnesses which are caused by supernatural elements. The following are some of the examples of these cultural beliefs:
 Usog - is a strong “hot breath” possessed by a person with inherently strong life-force that can cause to others a discomfort characterized by stomachache, nausea and headache. Based on experience, one who has usog can cause discomfort to those whose life-force is naturally weak most especially the children.
 Nalamang lupa – is a discomfort caused by earth dwellers if they’re disturbed in their daily activities. Sweeping the floor or ground with the use of walis ting-ting after the sun has set can disturb the earth dwellers.
 Naengkanto – is not really a physical ailment but a person who has an engkanto for a friend or acquaintance shows strange behavior as he talks to someone only he or she can see.
 Nabarang – is an ailment caused by a sorcerer called the Mambabarang, who uses insects in inflicting harm to their victim. The Mambabarang can instruct the insects to enter the body of an intended victim either through his anus, ear or nose.
 Nagaway – an ailment caused by a Manggagaway through manikaan and palipad hangin. The Manggagaway can make a person lose his mind; make a woman pregnant and make her deliver a fish or a lizard baby.
 Namatanda – is a discomfort or ailment caused by a disturbed or offended “nuno sa punso”. It is widely believed that an “old dwarf”, “kama-kama” to the Ilonggo, resides by an anthill. It is not an uncommon practice for a Filipino to say “tabi-tabi po” when passing by an ant hill “punso” or pee in an unfamiliar place lest he offends the dweller.
 Natabang / Nakitang – an ailment caused by Manugtabang or Manugkitang, called in general as Manughiwit by the Hiligaynon. Manugtabang is known to cause the bloating of stomach of their victim; while Manugkitang used fin of the fish called kitang, to inflict harm to their victim.

II. Folk System of Medicine Specialists or Practitioners

Common Essential Attributes:
- Use of rituals and prayer (a genuine specialist possesses a “librita”, a small book)
- Claim of access to supernatural power
- Acknowledged and recognized in their community to have the ability to heal
 The Albularyo – is a general practitioner. He is sought for his ability to deal the case of the victims of sorcery, witchcraft and earth dwellers. At the time of the Spaniards, they were called herbolario due to their vast knowledge on herbal medicines.
 The Manghihilot – specialist in fractured bone, sprain, dislocated joints, pinched nerves and other “sala” (generic term for muscle, bones, and joint discomfort)
 The Magpapaanak (local midwives) – trained and experienced practitioners who assist mothers in the delivery of their children. Their practice includes hilot to correct inverted uterus, pre-natal hilot to position the baby for easy delivery, post-natal hilot and “suob” to hasten the healing recovery of the mother.
 Magluluop (Diviners) / Magtatawas – specialists in divining and diagnosing illness through rituals and prayers

III. Folk Medicine and Meaning of Hilot
The coming of modern medicine with its scientifically verifiable claims; and our government, finally regulating the professional system of medicine, has relegated the practice of folk medicine to the remote areas of our country. Furthermore, ailments which were formerly diagnosed as supernaturally caused, were given scientific explanation, thus reducing folk system of diagnosis and healing to a mere practice of quackery.

Despite the labeling however, folk system of medicine survived and continued to help saving the lives of people in the provinces and remote areas. Peasants with cases of lung problems, diarrhea, skin diseases, sprain and fracture, muscular dystrophy, urinary problems, arthritis and a lot of common diseases were cured and had survived through traditional approach. Claims and testimonies were even made that what advanced medicine failed to cure, were healed through traditional medicine.

This simply shows that our traditional medicine still has something to offer in this modern world. Old fashioned but safe and effective traditional medical practices has to be preserved and developed more so now that recorded side effects and complications brought about by antibiotics and unnecessary modern medicine have started to mount.

This is how HILOT as we use it today is born. The word, used to refer only to the physical manipulation employed by the Manghihilot or to the identity of Magpapaanak. At present it carries a wider and more profound meaning. HILOT today refers to the Filipino traditional art of healing - a synthesis from the Filipino folk system of medicine. Its aim is to preserve, develop and promote Filipino traditional medicine and medical practices that have been validated by experience to be safe, effective and beneficial to health.

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