Albularyo comes from a Spanish word, "herbolario," meaning an herbalist. He or she uses, leaves, stems, barks, and other medicinal plants to treat illnesses, whether supernatural or not. Albularyo was previously known as a babaylan when the Spaniards came in the Philippines, his or her influence and power were lost. Despite of this, he or she continued his or her medical practice. He or she is situated in rural areas.
The albularyo is a general practitioner, and his or her expertise in medicinal herbs is commonly handed down from one generation to another in a family line. Some of them took an apprenticeship to gain knowledge in traditional medicine.
The albularyos are mostly elders in the barangays, tribes, villages, and kingdoms.
Because of economic constraints, people relied on the albularyo's medical skill. Some of the patients were sick due to a supernatural being like nuno, tikbalang, duwende, kapre, or lamang-lupa. The albularyos provide prayers or orasyon (or oration) while treating the patients. He may also practice in rituals to drive away evil spirits. Sacrificial offerings were sometimes used during treatments. The methods and practices done by the albularyos vary in different areas.
Mananambal is known as an albularyo in Cebu located in the Visayas region, Philippines. His or her healing is called panambal. Orasyon and herbal medicine were commonly used by the mananambal. He or she treats illnesses such as headache, fever, cold, toothache, dengue fever, wounds, infection, cancer, and intellectual ailment.
Manghihilot is also a folk healer who uses massaging techniques to treat sprains, fractures, and other similar conditions. He or she is known as a massager, a folk chiropractor, or a folk massage therapist.
Magpapaanak is most popularly referred to as a folk midwife. His or her medical practice comes from one generation to another. The practice came from a relative, a friend, or a neighbor. He or she has knowledge in medicinal herbs for prenatal needs and postnatal care. Unlike midwives, some of them do not have a certification and a registration to child delivery.
Mangluluop is a folk specialist who makes a diagnosis in the appearance of the burned concoction composed of freshwater seashells or saltwater shell, coconut midribs, a tin plate, palm leaves that were blessed by Catholic priests during Palm Sunday, and a charcoal made from a coconut shell. He or she determines the cause of an illness based on the appearance of the burned materials. The practice is done with the use of prayers and invocations. He or she applies the powdered seashells and performs the sign-of-the-cross three times on a patient's head, palms, and feet. He or she may refer the patient to an albularyo, a mediko or a manghihilot for further treatment. The remainder of the concoction is thrown under the stairs at the entrance of the patient's home to prevent evil spirits from entering again the house.
Manghihila is another healer in traditional medicine. He or she uses a diagnostic procedure performed by a manghihilot. This procedure is known as panghihila. Aside from coconut oil used to massage the patient's body, a prayer will be performed. Plain strips of paper, strips of cigarette cellophane cover, mirrors and strips of banana leaves are also used for treatment.
Mangtatawas is a healer that uses tawas to determine the nature and cause of the illness. Tawas refers to a diagnostic procedure. The healer uses candles, eggs, mirrors, plain paper, cigarette rolling paper, and potassium alum.
Mediko is a folk doctor that combines folk medicine and techniques in western medicine. He or she prescribes medicines and uses acupuncture to treat patients.
Faith healers are also medical practitioners, and their healing techniques may differ, but they share their healing abilities to treat illnesses. Some of them are like albularyos, manghihilot and other healers as they may provide religious rituals through prayers and invocation. Some of the faith healers are psychic healers healing at a distance. Others pass icons or crucifixes over the body. Some of them may perform surgery on a patient without the use of surgical tools. The number of healers is uncertain. However, there is a spiritist group known as the Union Espiritista Christianade Filipinas. The group has an estimated 10,000 faith healers who are trained in mediumistic healing in the Philippines.
Cordilleras Shamans are healers situated in the Philippine Cordilleras. They heal ailments based on the beliefs of Igorots (including the tribes of Bontok, Gaddang, Ibaloy, Ifugao, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankana-ey, Iklahan, I'wak and Tinguian). Following their cultural beliefs and their respect in nature, spirits and other beings, the Cordilleras Shamans offered prayers and sacrificial animals. They appease the anito (spirits of the dead, ancestral spirits, or spirits from nature) to prevent them from inducing illness and misfortune. Sacrifices, feasts, and dances were performed as a form of thanksgiving and as entertainment for gods and goddesses.
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History and Medicine in the Philippines
Non-FictionBefore the Philippines were colonized by foreign countries, Filipinos have Babaylan who is equally ranked to the status of a chieftain (Datu). The Babaylan guided her people with her knowledge in food, animals, clothing, medicine and other ways of l...
