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Integrating Filipino Traditional Medicine in Conventional Medicine

1) Filipino traditional medicine is the indigenous knowledge, skills, and practices used to maintain health and treat illness that are recognized by Filipinos but not necessarily explained by modern science. 2) It is based on maintaining harmony between a person and the universe, nature, other people, and within their own body, mind and spirit. Illness occurs when these relationships are disrupted. 3) More research and investment is needed to develop Filipino traditional medicine, but some local governments and facilities have begun integrating it with conventional medicine.

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agnes fenix
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102 views

Integrating Filipino Traditional Medicine in Conventional Medicine

1) Filipino traditional medicine is the indigenous knowledge, skills, and practices used to maintain health and treat illness that are recognized by Filipinos but not necessarily explained by modern science. 2) It is based on maintaining harmony between a person and the universe, nature, other people, and within their own body, mind and spirit. Illness occurs when these relationships are disrupted. 3) More research and investment is needed to develop Filipino traditional medicine, but some local governments and facilities have begun integrating it with conventional medicine.

Uploaded by

agnes fenix
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FILIPINO

TRADITIONAL
MEDICINE


Integrating Filipino Traditional
Medicine in Conventional Medicine

Jaime Z. Galvez Tan, MD, MPH


President, Health Futures Foundation Inc. (HFI)

Adaptation of the TRADITIONAL AND
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ACT OF 1997
Definition:
• FILIPINO TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
Ø the sum total of Filipino indigenous knowledge, skills
and practice on health care, not necessarily explicable
in the context of modern, scientific philosophical and
conventional medicine framework, but recognized by
the Filipino people to help maintain and improve their
health towards the wholeness of their being, the
community and society, and their interrelations based
on culture, history, heritage, and consciousness.
(adaptation by Galvez Tan JZ 2018)


Kahulugan ng Kalusugan at Kaginhawaan
Ang Kalusugan ay ang mabuting kaugnayan
ng sangkatahan sa kalawakan,
at ang mabuting kaugnayan ng
sangkatauhan sa kalikasan;
at ang mabuting kaugnayan
ng sangkatauhan sa kanyang kapwa;
at ang mabuting kaugnayan niya sa kanyang
sariling katawan, isip at kaluluwa.

(J.Z. Galvez Tan (2005) from interviews with hundreds of Filipino


FILIPINO TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

•  Definition of HEALTH and WELLNESS

Health and wellness is the state of harmony,


balance and synergy between humankind
and the universe, between humankind and
the nature, between and among humankind
and within the human body, mind and soul


(J.Z. Galvez Tan (2005) from interviews with hundreds of Filipino traditional
healers 1975-2005)
Katutubong Medisina ng Pilipinas
•  Kahulugan ng Sakit at
Karamdaman
Kapag naputol ang kaugnayan ng
sangkatauhan sa kalawakan;
Kapag naputol ang kaugnayan ng
sangkatauhan sa kalikasan;
Kapag naputol ang kaugnayan ng
sangkatauhan sa kanyang kapwa;
Kapag naputol ng taon ang kaugnayan niya
sa kanyang sariling katawan, isip at
kaluluwa
Ay magtatamasa siya ng kasakitan,
FILIPINO TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

•  Definition of ILLNESS and DISEASE



When the harmony, balance and synergy
between humankind and the universe,
between humankind and nature, between
and amongst people and within his body,
mind and spirit are broken and not
mended, then disease, death and
destruction will occur.

(J. Z. Galvez Tan from interviews with hundreds of Filipino Traditional Healers
1975-2005)
A Word About Filipino Traditional Medicine
Triads of Relationships in Filipino Traditional Medicine

Kalawakan Kaluluwa Katawan


(Universe) (Spirit) (Body)

Internal
Relationships

External
Relationships

Kalikasan Kapwa Kaisipan


(Nature) (Humankind) (Mind)
Harmony, Balance and Synergy of Relationships
in Filipino Traditional Medicine

Universe

Spirit Body

Nature Humankind

Mind
Six Dimensions of Health, Wellness and
Well-Being

Spiritual

Emotional Physical

Social Mental

Environmental
The 2017 Framework for Integrated (Filipino and
Conventional) Health and Wellness
Therapies in Filipino Traditional Medicine
§  Herbal medicine
§  Animal medicine
§  Mineral medicine
§  “Hilot” - the Filipino
traditional massage
§  Haplos Hilot
§  Hilot sa Kawayan
§  “bentosa” or cupping
§  Food or animal offerings
§  Prayers and “oracion”
§  “Tandok” -animal bite
treatment
Therapies in Filipino Traditional Medicine
§  “oslob” or “suob” -fumigation or
steam inhalation with healing
herbs
§  bathing practices or “paligo”
§  “kurot” or pinching
§  “laway” or use of saliva
§  skin abrasions through coins or
“pamula”
§  “tapik-kawayan” or bamboo stick
tapping
§  Psychic healing
§  Psychic surgery
Diagnosis in Filipino Traditional Medicine

§  Pulse diagnosis (“pamulso”)

§  Use of external diagnostic tools:


“tawas”, eggs, bottles, “dahon ng
saging”,”papel”

§  Use of animal sacrifices



§  Use of “hilot” (palpation with massage)

§  Laying of the hands

§  Reading of aura
Prevention in Filipino Traditional Medicine

§  “Anting-anting” or amulets

§  “Habak” tied around the waist or wrist,


“panagang sa buyag”

§  Use of garlic or “bawang”

§  Use of “lana” or coconut oil

§  Prayers and offerings

§  Doing good to fellow men


The Filipino Traditional Healers
§  Arbularyo/Herbolario/Tambalan
§  Hilot sa Pilay
§  Hilot sa Panganganak/Paltira
§  Mantatawas
§  Mambubulong
§  Babaylan
§  Espiritista
§  Mampapagpag
§  Magtatandok
§  Mangkukulam/Mambabarang

§  At mga 120 iba pang manggagamot


OTHER CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES in Filipino
Traditional Medicine

§  Concept of “hiyang” and “binat”



§  Ethical code among arbolaryos

§  “Panata” or “tulumanon” during the Holy Week and


Season of Lent

IMCI – Fever, Coughs and Colds
and URTI
Integrative Medicine Procedures:
Haplos Hilot – The Filipino Touch Therapy
Herbal Medicine –
Honey and Calamansi
Lagundi, Ginger, Honey and Calamansi
Muscovado, Coconut Sugar, Brown Sugar
as
substitute for honey
IMCI – Diarrhea and Dehydration
•  Haplos Hilot sa Tiyan – Abdominal Massage
•  Herbal Medicine – ABC – Leaves of avocado,
bayabas and caimito – make a decoction and
add one tablespoon of brown sugar and a
pinch of salt for every one glass of the
decoction.


1. Majority of Philippine medicinal plants
with centuries of ethnomedical history,
remain untapped. Only 500 Filipino
plants and trees studied.

2. Investments in research and development
l in Filipino Traditional Medicine now
increasing …....but research proposals still
lacking.

3. More investments needed in herbal
medicine production, post harvest
processing and herbal manufacturing.

4. Europe, USA, China, Japan and Southeast
Asia have integrated traditional medicine
and we can learn from their policies and
experiences.

5. Need for increase collaboration among
indigenous communities and research
institutions, private business sector, civil
society organizations, and academe.

6. Just do it: Integration of Filipino Traditional
Medicine at the barangay Health Stations, at
the Birthing Centers, at the RHUs, in the

7. Need for market and government incentives


like the ones given to rice, corn, coconut,
sugar, bananas, pineapples and mangoes.

8. Need for standards in health care ethics in
the integration; a Code of Conduct for
Filipino Traditional Medicine Practitioners (a
bottom up approach); standardized
procedures of Filipino Traditional Health
Technologies ; accreditation/recognition of
Filipino traditional medicine practitioners.


§  Twenty One (21) Years of
PITACH…..many
accomplishments yet so
many much more need to
be done
§  Recognize already those
who have been integrating
– Cuenca, Batangas
municipality n RHU
§  - Romblon and Aklan
Province LGU
§  -Hospitals and Medical
Centers w/ Trad Medicine

§  Philippines - Islands of Wellness and the
Center of Health and Wellness in Asia

§  Philippines - The Global Capital for Tropical


Medicinal Plants

§  The Filipino Hilot Traditional Massage - a


brand name in all spas of the world in the
next 5 years

§  Philippine Health Care – Combining the


Best of Asia with the Best of Europe and
North America
Books on FilipinoTraditional Medicine
To God be all the praise,
honor, and glory!
Maraming Salamat!
Doc Jimmy Z. Galvez Tan, MD, MPH
President, Health Futures Foundation,
[email protected]
Mobile Phones: 0917 853 7798 (Globe)
0998 998 3745 (Smart)

www.docjimmygalveztan.com
Maraming salamat po!

Jaime Z. Galvez Tan MD, MPH


President, Health Futures Foundation Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +63998 998 3745;, +63917-853 7798
Facebook: Jaime Galvez Tan Full
www.docjimmygalveztan.com
www.healthfuturesfoundation.com

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