Health

“a state of complete physical,

mental, and social well-being
and not merely the absence of
disease" according to the
World Health Organization
(WHO).
 Origin
health (n.)
Old English hælþ "wholeness, a being
whole, sound or well," from Proto-
Germanic hailitho,"whole and
uninjured" (source also of Old
English hal "hale, whole;" Old
Norse heill "healthy;" Old English halig,
Old Norse helge "holy, sacred;" Old
English hælan "to heal"). 
 What is Culture bound Syndrome?
Also known as culture-specific
syndrome
A combination of psychiatric and
somatic symptoms that are
considered to be a recognizable
disease only within a specific
society or culture.
 Usog/Buyag
Primarily affects infants and young children
who have been greeted by a stranger. Once
affected, the child may develop fever
convulsions. Various cures are said to be
effective including boiling the child’s clothing
or rubbing the stranger’s saliva on the child’s
abdomen.
The only scientific explanation for this
phenomenon may be that the child becomes
extremely stressed by the stranger, resulting in
extreme physical symptoms.
 Philippine Traditional and Alternative Medicine

Traditional medicine has been practiced

since ancient times in every culture
throughout the world and has been an
integral part of human evolution and
development.
The evolution of Philippine traditional
medicine is an interesting study that is
influenced by religion, mysticism, magic,
superstition, folkloric herbalism and western
medicine.
 ALBULARYO
The word arbularyo derives
from herbolario, a Spanish word
meaning herbalist.
"Albularyo" is the common
pronunciation and spelling used in
Tagalog, and is usually translated
to English as a "witch doctor".
commonly found in rural areas who heals
people using herbs and traditional
practices such as hilot or massage. Their
patients are usually common folk who have
trouble affording legitimate medical
services, or those who are very traditional.
Many people trust them not only because
of tradition, but because they usually show
more care and concern for their patients,
than doctors in hospitals.
 Babaylan
a woman who is "a specialist in the fields of
culture, religion, medicine and all kinds of
theoretical knowledge about the phenomenon
of nature." In ancient Filipino society, the
babaylans are believed to be a woman who
had been possessed by a spirit, or a woman
who had dreams or had encountered life-
altering experiences, or a woman who has
inherited the role to become a "mystical
woman" from an elder babaylan.
Their functions include the role of
community leaders, warriors,
community defenders, priestesses,
healers, sages and seers. Although
babaylans were mostly women,
there were also male babaylans,
which were men dressing up as
women to be able to act the role of
the female babaylan.
 Hilot
The hilot may refer to either
the manghihilot or the magpapaanak.
uses massaging techniques to treat
sprains, fractures, and other conditions
that affect the skeletal system and the
musculatory system, including ligaments.
The manghihilot is often ordained or
chosen by the mediko or an ermitanya (a
female hermit).
They are folk practitioners who
perform massage and healing sessions
under the influence of "powerful"
amulets, "empowered" cane, or a
"Nazarene garb". Their chiropractic
techniques utilizes "symbolic patterns"
reminiscent of the shape of the cross of
the Christ, of crown of thorns, and of
hands and feet nailed to the cross.
 Magpapaanak
The magpapaanak, the other "hilot", is
the folk "midwife" who does prenatal
visits and check-ups to pregnant
mothers. Normally a woman, she
delivers babies during childbirth and
often performs the ritual called
the suob (a form of "aroma therapy"
performed while placed under a cloak).
 Manghihila
The manghihila (the "puller") uses the
technique known as panghihila (the
"pulling"), wherein the patient is rubbed
with coconut oil accompanied by the use
of a mirror, strips of cellophane paper that
were used as wrappers of cigarette boxes,
strips of banana frond, or wrappings of
medicinal leaves.
The type of "pull" felt during the
massage therapy becomes the basis
of what causes the ailment (i.e. the
"smoothness" of the pull of the
material used or the lingering or
hovering or the strength of
resistance of the applied material
on a specific spot of the patient's
body).
 Mangtatawas
The mangtatawas (literally "user
of tawas") determines the cause and
nature of illnesses through the use of 
potassium alum, locally known in the
Philippines as tawas as one of the
primary ingredients. The other materials
used in the diagnostic procedure are
candles, eggs, mirrors, plain paper, and
paper used for rolling cigarettes.
 Early medicinal practices
Cleaning cadavers were done by bathing and
then rubbing the corpses with camphor oil.
After cleansing, preservation of dead bodies
were done through the introduction of buyo, a
type of beetle and aloes via the mouth. Persons
bitten by rabid dogs were treated
by curanderos using the brain of a rabid
dog. For 300 years, the efficacy of oil from 
monungalwood scrapings and pieces were used
to fight cholera.
Early Filipino used hydrotherapy by bathing
in natural hot springs or sulphuric body of
waters. Filipinos of Spanish times, particularly
those in Los Baños, Laguna, still bathe
themselves even if sick. The placename Los
Baños is Spanish for "the places for bathing".
To cure appendicitis, traditional Filipino
healers during the Spanish period in the
Philippines prescribed the intake of "water-
treated fresh chicken gizzards" that would last
for three consecutive Friday mornings.
 Common diseases
Common disease during the Spanish period in the
Philippines were diarrhea, dysentery, and
leprosy. There were also the presence of cholera,
influenza, smallpox, beri-beri, dysentery, bubonic
plague, scurvy, rheumatism, asthma, syphilis,
tetanus, toothache, and ulcers. Many Filipinos
believed in pasma (a resulting condition similar to 
spasm which involves the occurrence of hand
tremors, sweaty palms, numbness and pains after
the body's exposure to "unhealthy cold" and water),
the state of nausog ("distress" caused by an
unfamiliar person), and "personalistic sorcery".
 Pharmacies
It was in 1830 when the "true
pharmacies" were established in the
Manila, Philippines. In 1871, a faculty
of pharmacy was formally established
at the University of Santo Tomas, and
was later followed by the opening of
"well-appointed drug stores".
 Hospitals
Both the Spanish government and
Spanish missionaries established a
number of hospitals in the Philippines.
The first hospital was erected by the
Spaniards in Cebu during 1565. That
first hospital was later transferred to
Manila for the purpose of treating sick
and wounded military personnel.
The establishment of other health and
charity institutions soon followed. The
missionaries who established the early
hospitals in the Philippines were the
Franciscans, the Brotherhood of the
Misericordia, the Brotherhood of San
Juan de Dios, and the Dominicans.
There were also lay government people
who became founders of hospitals
during the time period.
 President Fidel V. Ramos appreciated the
importance of the traditional medicine program
and signed into law Republic Act 8423 (R.A.
8423), otherwise known as the Traditional and
Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997.
This gave rise to the creation of Philippine
Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health
Care (PITAHC) which is tasked to promote and
advocates the use of traditional and alternative
health care modalities through scientific
research and product development
 The following are the 10 Medicinal Plants in
the Philippines endorsed by DOH:
Akapulko (Cassia alata) called “ringworm
bush or schrub” and “acapulco”in English,
used to treat tinea infections, insect bites,
ringworms, eczema, scabies and itchiness.
Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)  “bitter
melon ” or “bitter gourd ” in English. Found
effective in the treatment of diabetes (diabetes
mellitus), hemofrhoids, coughs, burns and
scalds, and being studied for anti-cancer
properties.
Lagundi (Vitex negundo) – “5-leaved
chaste tree” in english is used in treat
cough, colds and fever. It is also used as a
relief for asthma & pharyngitis,
rheumatism, dyspepsia, boils, and
diarrhea.
Bayabas (Psidium guajava) – “Guava” in English.
Used as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-
spasmodic, antioxidant hepatoprotective, anti-
allergy, antimicrobial, anti-plasmodial, anti-cough,
antidiabetic, and antigenotoxic in folkloric medicine.
Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis indica L.) –
“Chinese honey suckle”. Used to eliminate
intestinal parasites.
Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)– English
name: “Ngai camphor or Blumea camphor”
Used to treat kidney stones, wounds and cuts,
rheumatism, anti-diarrhea, anti spasms, colds
and coughs and hypertension
Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla Lam.) –
English :”Wild tea”. taken as tea to treat skin
allergies including eczema, scabies and
itchiness wounds in child birth
Ulasimang Bato | Pansit-Pansitan (Peperomia
pellucida) known for its effectivity in treating
arthritis and gout.
Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii) –
Peppermint, used as analgesic to relieve body
aches and pain due to rheumatism and gout. It is
also used to treat coughs, colds and insect bites
Bawang (Allium sativum) “Garlic”. treat
infection with antibacterial, antiinflammatory,
anti-cancer and anti-hypertensive properties.
Widely used to reduce cholesterol level in blood.
  
Why it is important to stay healthy?
If you're eating the right food and
keeping fit, your body will be strong and
help you to cope with stress and also
fight illness. Eating well and exercising
often when you're a teenager will also
help you stay in good health later in
life. Getting regular sleep is another
really important way to stay healthy.
 WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Staying healthy physically can

help you stay healthy
emotionally too. If you're eating
the right food and keeping fit,
your body will be strong and
help you to cope with stress and
also fight illness.
Eating well and exercising often
when you're a teenager will also help
you stay in good health later in life.
Getting regular sleep is another
really important way to stay healthy.
Having late nights can leave you
feeling tired the next day. It can be
difficult, but try to have at least 8
hours sleep each night.