BAGUIO CITY: The Department of Health (DOH) is pushing for the integration of traditional and alternative health care in the country’s health system side by side with the modern medicine and health care.

DOH Nurse 5 Teresita Foman-eg in Cordillera Autonomous Region, said that there are already 10 herbal medicines that the Health department, through the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (Pitahc), approved; for public use as research studies have proven their therapeutic value.

The Health department herbal medicine list includes: acapulco, ampalaya (bitter gourd), bayabas (guava), lagundi (five-leave chaste tree), ulasiming bato/pansit pansitan (indigenous to the Philippines, no English name), sambong, tsaang gubat (wild tea), hierba buena (peppermint), bawang (garlic) and niyog-niyogan (Chinese honeysuckle). She said that tawa-tawa (Euphorbia hita) and guyabano (soursop) are already undergoing research.

Though there are many more indigenous plants and herbs that are said to have medicinal value, Foman-eg still advised the public to be very careful in using herbs as medicines. Like any drug or medicine, it should not be taken unless it is prescribed.

She encouraged those who know or believe that a certain herb or plant has therapeutic claim to submit it for documentation and study at the National Commission on Indigenous People or Pitahc.

Another traditional health care practice that the Health Department is advocating is acupuncture. According to Foman-eg, there are now 17 trained acupuncturist in the region including the well-known acupuncturists, Dr. Charles Cheng of the Baguio Chinese Hospital and Dr. Manuel Quirino of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

As for massage therapy, another traditional and alternative health care, Foman-eg disclosed that the Health department, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or Tesda, is now pushing for the documentation and licensing of massage therapy clinics and masseuses in the region.