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By Perry Gil S. Mallari, Reporter
MASSAGE is the perhaps the oldest form of
therapy known to man, and in the Philippines it maintains a long and
rich tradition. The Filipino art of bone setting and therapeutic
massage was known by various name: hilot (Tagalog, Visayan, Bicolano,
Manobo, Dumagat), hagud (Bukidnon), aplos (Bontoc) and ablon
(Northern Ilocano) to name a few. Its practitioners known as
manghihilot, mammulo and partera were a common sight throughout the
archipelago.
Modality
Like any therapeutic tradition, Filipino hilot
has its own unique healing modality. The foundation of Filipino
hilot is more or less based on the concept of physical and spiritual
channels latent in the human body. So long as energy and other
bodily fluids flow freely through these conduits, the body is in
optimum health. Thus, the most common diagnosis one will hear from
practitioners of hilot is “May baradong ugat [A vein was
clogged].”
It is interesting to note that the concept of
energy meridians was present in the healing arts of other Asian
countries as well. In his definitive article on hilot entitled
“Healing Arts of the Philippines,” published in the Rapid
Journal Vol. 5 No.3-4, Virgil J. Mayor Apostol, an ayurvedic
therapist at the Chopra Center for Well Being in the United States
and perhaps the most authoritative practitioner of traditional hilot
today, relates that the urat and pennet (energy principles of hilot),
has obvious parallels in the Ayurvedic and yogic traditions of
India. Apostol explains that in the said healing arts, it was
believed that nadis, or channels, that carry prana, or life force
energy, exist throughout the body.
Common categories
Hilot is one of the three main branches of
Philippine healing tradition. Filipino folk healers were generally
categorized into three divisions—the manghihilot (masseurs and
bonesettes), the albolaryo (healing repertoire consists of herb
tinctures, prayers and rituals) and the kumadrona or partera
(midwife). The Philippines healing tradition has a strong
resemblance to curanderismo or folk medicine of Mexico, another
nation that was subjected to Spanish rule for centuries. Like their
Philippine counterparts, Mexican curanderos or healers come in the
three types: The yerbero (herbalist), the sobador (masseur) partera
(midwife).
Scientific rationale
The resurgence of interest in mind-body medicine
in the last few decades has brought a lot of alternative methods of
healing under scientific scrutiny. Some have passed, others failed.
Though it cannot be denied that hilot has its metaphysical side and
it will take some more time before it can be totally quantified
scientifically, a number of its practices have a sound medical
rationale. Massage for instance, on the most basic level, can abate
the fear and anxiety of the patient. Physiologically, it can slow
down the release of stress hormone cortisol and increase the
body’s production of another hormone, serotonin, which can improve
and boost immunity.
An additional scientific healing factor that
must be considered is the healer’s personality. There are healers
whose power of charisma is bordering on the miraculous that they can
make you feel well just by knowing them. Not surprisingly, there
were practitioners of hilot who admits that at times, they also
harness the potential of the placebo effect in healing their
patients.
Prudence
A possible clash between a patient’s religious
beliefs and the principles or foundation of a particular alternative
healing method must be put into consideration when opting to employ
a particular therapy. The occult, reverence to nature spirits and
mysticism were part and parcel of the majority of systems of hilot.
Even in the absence of professional and
regulating standards regarding the practice of hilot today,
potential patients can protect themselves from harm by using common
sense. Among the factors to be considered when consulting a
particular healer are hygiene, gender sensitivity and the
practitioner’s reputation. Be wary of healers who claim to have
all the answers. Any healing modality, Filipino or otherwise has its
limitation and it is good to learn that despite its mystical nature,
many practitioners of hilot today are to open a collaboration with
doctors of conventional medicine.
Hilot is a gem of Filipino heritage. With
responsible research, its potential can be realized as an effective
alternative therapy that many Filipinos can benefit from.
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