Family Medicine & Community Health 3

Traditional and Complementary Medicine

Angel Erich R. Sison, MD | 31 August 2019

PAGBABALANGKAS NG ARALIN I. T&CM: AN INTRODUCTION

I. T&CM: An Introduction A. DEFINITION OF TERMS
A. Definition of Terms
• Health
B. WHO Stand in Practice and Cooperation in T&CM
1. WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023 o A state of complete physical, mental and social
2. National Policy on T&CM well-being and not merely the absence of disease
3. T&CM Providers: Regulation, Practice Settings, and or infirmity. (WHO)
Licensing • Wellness
4. Challenges and the Need for WHO Support o A healthy balance of the mind, body, and spirit
C. DOH National Health Sector Meeting that results in an overall feeling of well-being.
1. Health System Structures in Relation to T&CM
(Halbert Dunn)
2. Benchmarking for T&CM in Other Countries
a. Malaysia
o Comes about when health is combined with
b. Thailand factors that make you happy such as peace of
c. India mind, satisfaction in your work and life,
D. Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health emotional, spiritual stability and freedom from
Care (PITAHC) fear
1. History and Thrusts of PITAHC • Healing
2. Current Situation of T&CM in the Philippines o Act or process of curing or of restoring to health
3. Results of the Round Table Discussion
o Healing-oriented medicine takes account of the
4. Policy Objectives
5. Strategies for Reform whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including
a. Integration of T&CM in Service Delivery all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the
Units therapeutic relationship and makes use of all
b. Education and Training appropriate therapies, both conventional and
c. Acupuncture Certification alternative. (NCCAM, NIH USA)
d. Governance • Conventional Medicine
6. Next Steps of the Policy Reforms
o Traditional medicine that the majority of us are
II. Indigenous Health
A. Definition of Terms
familiar with — local doctors, clinics, hospitals,
B. Pathways of Improving Health of IPs pharmacies. It’s the kind of medicine the average
1. Social Determinants of Health physician practices.
C. Universal Coverage of all Indigenous People o Also called Allopathic Medicine, Biomedicine,
D. Collaboration Towards Health Equity of IPs Mainstream Medicine, Orthodox Medicine, and
E. Indigenous Community-Managed Programs Western Medicine.
III. Folk Medicine • Alternative Medicine
A. Definition of Terms
o Refers to non-mainstream practices used instead
B. Philippine Alternative Medicine and the Filipino Healers
1. History
of conventional medicine
2. ‘Health Staff’ and Modalities o The term used for medical products and practices
C. Folk Medicine and Treatment Contribution to PHC that are not part of standard care
D. Customary Use of Medicine in PHC o Used in place of standard medical care
E. Approaches for the Sustainable Development of Folk • Complementary Medicine
Medicine o A group of diagnostic and therapeutic disciplines
IV. Integrative Health and Medical Professions that are used together with conventional
A. Domains of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
medicine.
(NCCAM, NIH USA)
1. Mind-Body Medicine o If a non-mainstream practice is used together
2. Manipulative and Body-Based Practices with conventional medicine; it’s considered
3. Energy Therapies “complementary”.
4. Biologically-based Therapies • Integrative Medicine
a. Herbal Medicine Preparations o Medical care that combines conventional
b. Sampung Halamang Gamot (DOH) medicine with complementary and alternative
c. Other Herbal Medicines
medicine (CAM) approaches that have been
5. Whole Medical Systems
a. Ayurveda
shown to be safe and to work.
b. Traditional Chinese Medicine o Gives the personalized health plan for your
B. Related Integrative Practice Fields unique physical and emotional needs.
1. Holistic Nursing o Combines mainstream medical therapies and
C. Integrative Medicine Across the Preventive Spectrum CAM therapies for which there is some high-
1. Primary Prevention quality scientific evidence of safety and
2. Secondary Prevention effectiveness
3. Tertiary Prevention

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• Scientific Integrative Medicine
o Not a discipline, a group of disorders, or a method
of treatment, but an approach, a way of thinking.
o Scientific integrative medicine uses systems
concepts to explain disease processes and
develop strategies to treat, prevent, or palliate
them.

B. WHO STAND IN PRACTICE AND COOPERATION IN T&CM

• The goals are to support member states in:
o Harnessing the potential contribution of T&CM
to health, wellness, people-centred health care
and UHC • By 2018, a total of 98 countries, more than 50% of the 194
o Promoting safe and effective use of T&CM Member States, had a national policy on T&CM.
through the regulation, research and integration
of T&CM products, practices and practitioners
into health system, as appropriate.

1. WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023

• Certain Member States that do not have a centralized

health care system (e.g. USA) replied that they did not have
“one” national policy but had “several significant initiatives”
• Strategy is merely a guide to assist countries in developing
taking place across the country, within specific health
T&CM strategic goals in accordance with their own national
systems (e.g. the Veterans Administration in the US).
capacities, priorities, relevant legislation and
circumstances.
• Anticipated that the strategy will be reviewed after 5 years
to determine whether its objectives, directions and goals
are still applicable and current.
• A more thorough review will be completed at the end of
its 10-year lifespan to determine the full impact of the
strategy.

2. National Policy on T&CM

• Include a definition of the role of the government in the
development of T&CM in the health care delivery system.
• Safety and efficacy may be stated as guiding principles, and
the policy may also include vision and mission statements,
as well as goals and objectives

• Other practices reported included prayer, spiritualism,

traditional midwives, therapeutic massage, hypnotherapy,
reiki, reflexology, hands-on healing, hydrotherapy,
Feldenkrais, biofeedback, Rolfing, Bach flower remedies,
anthroposophic medicine, neural therapy, gSoba Rig-pa
(traditional Bhutanese medicine), Siddha medicine, Iranian
TM, cupping and ozone therapy.

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3. T&CM Providers: Regulation, Practice Settings, Licensing C. DOH NATIONAL HEALTH SECTOR MEETING
• Indigenous Traditional Medicine Providers • Progressively realize universal health care in the country
o Generally understood to include those who through a systemic approach and clear delineation of roles
practice indigenous traditional medicine of key agencies and stakeholders towards better
o Usually, most of these practitioners have been performance in the health system; and
practicing at the primary health care level
▪ Traditional healers 1. Health System Structures in Relation to T&CM
▪ Bonesetters
▪ Herbalists Table 1. Health System Structures in Relation to T&CM.
▪ Traditional Birth Attendants WHO Health System Description
• T&CM Providers Health care based entirely on
o Includes both T&CM practitioners, allopathic TOLERANT conventional medicine; T&CM not
medicine professionals and health care workers Canada, UK, other African countries
officially recognized
such as doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives,
pharmacists and physical therapists who provide Recognizes T&CM but has not
INCLUSIVE incorporated into all aspects of
T&CM services to their patients Philippines, SEA countries
▪ e.g. medical doctors who use health care
acupuncture to treat their patients, oR
▪ traditional Chinese medicine doctors T&CM is officially recognized and
INTEGRATIVE incorporated into all areas of
who provide services in clinics and China, Korea, Vietnam
hospitals health care provision

T&CM are widely used, more than

50% of the population access
PARALLEL these services and regulation are
India
totally separate for allopathic
medicine and T&CM modalities

2. Benchmarking for T&CM in Other Countries

Malaysia

4. Challenges and the Need for WHO Support

Thailand

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India 2. Current Situation of T&CM in the Philippines
• Provision of T&CM
o Integrated in 2 DOH-retained Hospitals
▪ Amang Rodriguez Memorial and
Medical Center
▪ Region 2 Trauma and Medical Center
• Standards for T&CM Practices
o Acupuncture trainings conducted in DOH –
retained Hospitals and LGU facilities
o Development of standards (competency
standards, code of ethics) for T&CM modalities
▪ Acupuncture, Chiropractic,
Homeopathy / Homotoxicology,
Naturopathy, Tuina Massage, and Hilot
• Research on T&CM
o Clinical research on safety and efficacy/benefits
of T&CM modalities

3. Results of the Round Table Discussion

• Need for integration of T&CM in Universal Health Care
• Need for T&CM to be included in Service Delivery Network
• Need to create critical mass of doctors
• Integration of T&CM in national health care is moving
towards a framework of a semi-integrated health system
to a full integrated health system (medium-term, 3 yrs.)
and eventually to a parallel health system (long- term, 5-10
yrs.)

4. Policy Objectives
• Overall Objective
o Integration of T&CM in the Universal Health Care
A – Ayurveda
• Specific Objectives
Y – Yoga & Naturopathy
U – Unani o To develop T&CM units in DOH hospitals
o To include T&CM in PhilHealth coverage
S – Siddha
H – Homeopathy o To strengthen regulation of T&CM products,
practitioners and facilities
D. PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE o To develop practice and research capacity
for T&CM
HEALTH CARE (PITAHC)
1. History and Thrusts of PITAHC
5. Strategies for Reform
• 1992
o Traditional Medicine Program was launched by Integration of T&CM in Service Delivery Units
the DOH under the leadership of then-Secretary • Establish Traditional and Complementary (T&CM) Units in
of Health Juan M. Flavier, with focus on all DOH-retained hospitals and LGU health facilities
promoting traditional medicine in the country • Pilot site implementation in receptive DOH and LGU
• PITAHC facilities:
o GOCC attached to the DOH
o Created under RA 8423, or the Traditional and
Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997
• Thrusts of PITAHC
o Conduct, coordinate and manage research
studies on T&CM policies, products, services and
technologies • Herbal processing plants in Tuguegarao, Tacloban,
o Develop standards for specific T&CM practices. Cotabato, and Davao
o Manage knowledge and information for the
promotion and utilization of T&CM products,
services and technologies.

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Education and Training II. INDIGENOUS HEALTH
• To promote traditional and alternative health care in A. DEFINITION OF TERMS
international and national conventions, seminars and • Indigenous Health
meetings o Refers to the physical, cultural, social and
• Community-based training on herbal medicine and emotional wellbeing of indigenous people
acupressure is conducted to inform and educate the public o Health for all - within and across countries.
on its health benefits and potential in providing alternative o Improving the health of all people has been a
livelihood call across the globe for many decades and
• Orientation seminar series on different traditional and unfortunately remains an elusive goal today as
alternative modality to familiarize participants on the the large disparities in health status of peoples
different traditional and alternative modalities and help found around the world have not diminished, and
them make wise choice for practice among the variety of have arguably increased.
therapies • Indigenous People
• Presidential Proclamation no. 698 o Inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures
o NOVEMBER as ‘Traditional and Alternative and ways of relating to people and the
Health Care Month’ environment.
o They have retained social, cultural, economic and
Acupuncture Certification political characteristics that are distinct from
• Certified Medical Acupuncturist those of the dominant societies in which they live.
• Certified Medical Associate Acupuncturist o Despite their cultural differences, indigenous
• Certified Acupuncturist peoples from around the world share common
• Certified Associate Acupuncturist problems related to the protection of their rights
as distinct peoples
Governance
• Integration of T&CM in medical and allied health
curriculum and offering of short courses in autonomous
colleges/universities
• Public information and improvement of health literacy
• Develop and capacitate critical mass of doctors on T&CM

6. Next Steps of the Policy Reforms

• Revised TAMA Law (RA 8423) and its IRR
• DOH Administrative Order Re: (FDA to regulate T&CM B. PATHWAYS OF IMPROVING HEALTH OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
products and HFSRB to license T&CM facilities using PITAHC • The WHO has adopted social determinants of health
standards) approach to the reduction of health inequities
• MOA and/or MOU between PITAHC and respective DOH
retained hospitals/Regional Health Center and LGU health
facilities regarding integration of T&CM
• CHED Accreditation for developed curricula for T&CM
• Clinical practice guidelines for T&CM modalities
• Additional research and IEC materials on T&CM

Timeline of the Reform 1. Social Determinants of Health

• These five key areas (determinants) include:
o Economic Stability
▪ Employment
▪ Food Insecurity
▪ Housing Instability
▪ Poverty

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o Education E. INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY-MANAGED PROGRAMS
▪ Early childhood education and • Community-managed programs are understood as
development programs where an indigenous community has decision-
▪ Enrolment in higher education making control and responsibility for the implementation
▪ High school graduation of the program
▪ Language and literacy
o Social and Community Context III. FOLK MEDICINE
▪ Civic participation
• In developing countries, where more than one-third of the
▪ Discrimination
population lacks access to essential medicines, the
▪ Incarceration
provision of safe and effective T&CM therapies could
▪ Social cohesion
become a critical tool to increase access to health care.
▪ Quality of housing
o Health and Health Care
A. DEFINITION OF TERMS
▪ Access to health care
▪ Access to primary care • Folk Medicine
▪ Health literacy o The treatment of disease or injury based on
o Neighbourhood and Built Environment tradition, especially oral tradition, rather than on
▪ Access to foods that support healthy modern scientific practice, and often utilizing
eating patterns indigenous plants as remedies.
▪ Crime and violence • Folk Healer
▪ Environmental conditions o An unlicensed person who practices the art of
healing using traditional practices, herbal
C. UNIVERSAL COVERAGE OF ALL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES remedies.
• Access to effective services is what WHO has named as o In some cultures, healer might be considered to
coverage, and universal coverage means that all people can be a person who has inherited the “gift” of
access health services that they need, and that these healing from his or her parents.
services are effective. • Home Remedies
• Moving towards the goal of universal coverage also means o A simply prepared medication often of unproven
reducing health inequities particularly within countries. effectiveness administered without prescription
or professional supervision
• All people should benefit while being protected against
financial hardship associated with paying for this care, • Faith Healer
either through out of pocket payments (to health providers o Person who cures sick people by using the power
as co-payments), insurance premiums, or other ways that of prayer and belief
governments raise revenues to pay for health services. o Come from either spiritist groups, diviners or
o This does not imply that care is free, but does from persons who were previously saved from
mean that governments should steward an illness or death and had encountered epiphanies
approach to finance health systems that are or mystical experiences who become convinced
progressive, inclusive and effective. that they were destined to help sick people after
o Pretty Ghurl does not agree with this provision chz receiving healing powers bestowed upon them by
the Holy Spirit or other supernatural beings.
D. COLLABORATION TOWARDS HEALTH EQUITY OF IPS o Most of these healers consider their healing craft
as God-given, a calling from a supernatural being,
• The International Group of Indigenous Health
and consequently, their healing practices are
Measurement (IGIHM), comprising individuals and groups
profusely infused with prayers and religious
from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States,
rituals.
was established in an effort to improve definitions, upgrade
o Usually they are rural-based.
the quality of collection and uses of health data share
information with colleagues in the other countries who • Herbal Medicine
experience the same issues. o Include crude plant such as leaves, flowers, fruits,
seed, stems, wood, bark, roots, or other plant
• One aim of the World Health Report of 2010 (WHO
parts, which may be whole, fragmented or
2010), is to provide examples and discuss options on
powdered.
how low, middle and high income countries can finance
o May be use as fresh juices, gums, fixed oils,
health systems to move more quickly towards the goal
essential oils, resins and dry powders extracted
of universal coverage.
from herbs.
• It was clear that the experiences fostered by the IGIHM
o May be processed by various local procedures
to improve methods, share data, and move forward
such as steaming, roasting, or stir-baking with
collaboratively across the four countries, could contribute
honey, alcoholic beverages or other materials.
to the aims of the World Health Report (e.g. the health-
financing decision process), and at the same time benefit
Indigenous peoples in other countries.

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B. PHILIPPINE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND THE FILIPINO HEALERS ▪ Deliver babies during childbirth and
1. History often performs ritual called the “Suob”
• In Philippine society from the prehistoric times, before the (a form of aroma therapy performed
Spaniards were able to set a firm foothold on the islands of while placed under a cloak.
the Philippines, the babaylan were the first healers within • Medico
the tribal communities of the ancient Philippines. o Albularyo furthers his training, assimilates and
• Babaylan adopts new skills and "expertise," merging
o Also known as religious leader, a specialist in the folkloric therapies with mainstream medicine,
field of culture, religion, medicine and all kinds of incorporating allopathic treatment modalities like
theoretical knowledge about the phenomenon of acupuncture, injection medications and
nature. prescription pharmaceuticals into his practice
o In ancient Filipino society, the babaylans are o Antibiotics and analgesics - even steroids - are
believed to be women who had been possessed empirically utilized by the medicos and
by a spirit, or a woman who had dreams or had dangerously added to the management of
encountered life-altering experiences. Their complicated maladies, prescribed
functions include the role of community leaders, indiscriminately and dispensed without the usual
warriors, community defenders, priestess, healer, warnings and precautions as to adverse reactions
sage, and seers. and side effects
• Shaman (Cordillera)
2. ‘Health Staff’ and Modalities o Folk healer that heal ailments based on the
• Albularyo beliefs of the Igorots
o General practitioners & the primary dispensers of o Rituals that involves offering of prayers and
health care sacrificial animals, belief in supreme deities or
o History of a healer in the family-line supreme beings, lesser ranked deities,
o A "calling," a power or ability bestowed by a intermediation by seers or human mediums, and
supernatural being pleasing and appraising the anito to prevent them
o Rituals of healing, the prayers, and the use of from inducing diseases and misfortunes
herbal medicinal plants • Mangluluop
o Diagnostic rituals (tawas, luop) and treatment o Specialist that determines the cause of an illness
modalities (tapal, lunas, kudlit, pang-kontra, through the ritual of luop
bulong, orasyon) o Ritual paraphernalia:
o Practice their craft only on Tuesdays and Fridays ▪ Kalanghuga (a kind of freshwater or
• Mananambal (Cebuano) saltwater shell),
o Practice is a combination of elements from ▪ Salt (to weaken the supernatural
Christianity and sorcery spirits),
o Cover natural and supernatural illnesses using a ▪ Benditang palaspas (piece of blessed
wide range of methods. palm leaves from Palm Sunday),
o Two common methods: ▪ Charcoal made from a coconut shell, a
▪ Herbal medicine ▪ Coconut midrib
▪ Orasyon – healing prayers deriving from ▪ Tin plate
a Bible equivalency called the “librito”. o Diagnosis is suggested by its appearance:
• Hilot ▪ Roughness – slight affliction;
o Ambiguously can refer to both the midwife ▪ Stickiness – sprain;
(magpapaanak) and the chiropractic practitioner ▪ Figure/Form (hugis-hugis) – Displeased
(manghihilot, masahe) environmental spirit;
o Manghihilot ▪ Brittleness – really angered spiri
▪ “Folk massage therapist”, “folk • Manghihila
chiropractor”. o Diagnostic procedure often used by the
▪ Uses massaging techniques to treat manghihilot
sprains, fractures, and other similar ▪ Plain strips of paper, strips of cigarette
conditions that affect the muscular cellophane covers, mirrors and strips of
system. banana leaves
▪ Folk practitioners who perform o Material is lightly placed on the surface of the
massage and healing sessions under the area or complaint and pulled some distance,
influence of powerful amulets, lifted, and replaced again on the adjoining area.
empowered cane, or a Nazarene garb. o If the strip of material sticks to the surface,
o Magpapaanak resisting the pull, this area is assumed to be an
▪ “Folk midwife” who does prenatal visits area of affliction, usually a pulled muscle or sprain
and check-ups to pregnant mothers. (sala)

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• Mangtatawas o Arcane in its pig-latin or dog-latin, the prayers
o Popular diagnostic ritual performed by most were written by a faith healer, and as such,
alternative healers that serves in providing clues believed to be empowered.
as to the nature and cause of the illness. o The bearer has carried it in his wallet for the past
o Originally derived its name from to its chemical 15 years, choosing and reading from the various
nature - alum, an astringent, crystalline double prayers that have been assigned particular use
sulfate of aluminium, and potassium according to the type of illness or severity of need
o Refers to a diagnostic ritual or procedure, utilizing o Like an "orasyon," the same prayers are often
a variety of materials: candles, eggs, mirrors, plain directly written on the surface of the ailing part.
paper, cigarette rolling-paper, and alum • Anting-anting
• Faith Healers o Philippine amulet, an essential part of the Filipino
o A separate category of specialization: spiritist folk credo & mythological makeup.
group in the Philippines - the Union Espiritista o Of the commercial anting-antings, the most
Christiana de Filipinas - has an estimated 10,000 popular is the one used for exorcism of the
members trained in mediumistic-healing nakulam or na-engkanto (hexed or bewitched)
scattered throughout the Philippines o There are those used as gayuma (love charms),
o Attribution of their healing power to a higher one of which is the "soft" anting - "malambot na
being - often, a gift bestowed on them by the Holy anting" — to which is attributed the holder's easy
Spirit; or, that they are merely healing mediums ways with women.
of the Holy Spirit • Subo
o Divine encounter, a mystical experience, or in o The extreme in anting esoteria - literally, "to take
their childhood or early adult life, a spiritual by mouth" and swallow
possession or being "entered" by a being, and a o Although most antings are buried with its owners,
life thereafter, being guided into the path of the "subo" is transferred from generation-to-
healing generation to blood kin, usually to the eldest of
the sons; occasionally it is passed on to a non-
Practices relative "chosen-one."
• Kulam • Boni
o After all the treatment modalities have failed, o Igorot tribal healing ritual, performed by village
patients and families often resign to the elder or "mambonong" for the treatment of a
possibility that the illness was caused by "kulam" wide range of illnesses including cancer, debility,
▪ A spell, na-kulam, na-enkanto, na-nuno, or to counter witchcraft and spells.
na-duwende, or na-asuwang o After prayers invoking the gods and spirits, while
o Various modalities of hexing or spell-casting partaking in the drinking of "tapoy" or rice wine,
continue to be prominent in the mythology and the elder or mambonong orders the slaughter of
rural tenets of health and healthcare a native "black" pig.
• Pyramid Power • Kudlit
o Harnessing of the energy forces inside the o Most frequently suggested and performed
pyramid and is believed to cause a multitude of treatment for dog, animal and other presumed
energy-driven effects: venomous bites.
▪ Polishing tarnished jewelry o Involves the application of numerous superficial
▪ Purifying polluted water (razor) blade cuts, as many as 30-100, in the areas
▪ Energizing water adjacent to or surrounding the bite, inducing
▪ Mummifying and dehydrating meat, multiple bleeding sites that is believed to release
eggs, etc. the "kamandag" (poison)
▪ Facilitating wound healing, and • Pwe-usog / Pwe-buyag
providing benefits in the treatment of o Treatment commonly given to afflictions
toothaches, migraine, rheumatism, associated with flatulence (kabag).
arthritis o In the Visayas, it is referred to as "pwe-buyag."
• Tiuyuy o Although flatulence is the usual presenting
o An example of a prayer form complaint, it may manifest as sudden cold and
o May be a piece of cloth (handkerchief) carried in clammy sweating, fever, nausea or vomiting.
person or clothing worn as an undergarment, to o When the distress is obviously abdominal
which prayers have been written on or whispered (flatulence, nausea, or vomiting, distention and
to, believed by the bearer or wearer to protect tympany), or simply distressful crying and sudden
him or her from illness or physical danger. in onset, the immediate suspicion is "na-usog,"
o Hankerchief-sized prayer cloth is detailed with believed to be a reaction to a greeting or
numerous handwritten prayers. comment from someone who might or might not

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be known to cause a greeting-induced or • Tawak
comment-induced malady. o This dark tea-colored decoction is made from a
o A counter-utterance as "Puwera usog!" may be rolling boil of twenty or more wild-crafted herbal
adequate to prevent the illness. But if the signs or and medicinal plants
symptoms of "usog" are already estabished, the o It is believed to be effective as a preventive
therapies and rituals to counter the malady are measure against illnesses caused by poisonous
performed. bites from snakes, dogs, scorpions, etc.
• Bulong / Orasyon o Preferably, a glassful of the warm decoction is
o Prayer is essential and integral to rural life and its drunk on Good Friday or the first Friday of August.
approach to health and illness. In some areas, • Bintusa
there are prayerists who are asked to invoke on o Form of massage therapy used for a variety of
behalf of the ailing for their healing needs. musculoligamentous complaints (back pain and
o usually whispered during the course of the muscle strains) or muscle fasciculations and
healing or manipulation. tremors that is often attributed to "too much air"
o Some believe that these oraciones can paralyze or "bad air" (masamang hangin).
an opponent (pamako), make one invisible to the o A broad-base cloth wick. usually with a coin
enemy (tagabulag) or make one invincible to serving as base, is saturated with fresh coconut
bullets or bolo cuts. It is also used for exorcism, as oil, made to stand on the skin and then lit up. A
a love charm, and for protection from physical drinking glass is placed upside-down over this
dangers and evil spirits. lighted wick and pressed firmly onto the skin. As
• Kadot the light extinguishes, a vacuum is produced, the
o A practice used for the treatment of dizziness still skin and soft tissues inside the glass are drawn
in use in the Pampanga area upward.
o Involves the drawing up and pinching of the neck
skin and flesh with the index and middle fingers Folk Treatment and Management for Some Conditions
flexed at the proximal interphalangeal joints, • Hika
intense enough to produce a band of bruising and o Fresh Dog's Blood
small areas of ecchymoses around the lower neck. ▪ In some regions of the country where
• Lunas the animal is still a side-dish
o Material believed to be derived from a single- accompaniment of alcoholic
horned animal or horn of a female deer. indulgments, the fresh blood is
o A small piece or shaved fragment of this horn is collected and drank immediately after
applied directly to the wound. It is believed the slaughter.
material will adhere to the wound only in the o Butiki
presence of "kamandag" (poison) or rabies and ▪ These ubiquitous nocturnal house
will fall off after a few hours when the 'kamandag' lizards are considered medicinal for
is no longer present. asthma; eaten after they are fried to a
• Mag-asawang Gamot crisp.
o Literally translated "husband-and-wife o Ipis
medication", refers to a self-medicating placebo- ▪ The chemicals from the tincture derived
and pharmacy-based combination therapy from the lowly and despicable
commonly used by the rural folk in the Quezon cockroach, Blatta orientalis, through its
area. effects on the vagus nerve and
o Most popular of the self-prescribed prescription parasympathetic innervation of the
pharmaceuticals, it originally paired the antibiotic respiratory system, is believed to
Chloramphenicol with the analgesic/antipyretic provide remedy for bronchial asthma
paracetamol. and bronchitis.
• Tapal • Bales
o Common rural treatment modality that utilizes o "Bales" (na-bales, na-bati) refers to a condition of
prayer, either written or whispered. A piece of headache or stomach cramps attributed to the
common material, usually cloth or paper (ex: negative effect of a greeting that contains a
cigarette rolling paper) to which a prayer has positive physical comment
been written (orasyon) is applied and pasted o An immediate verbal antidote (pang-kontra) is
directly to the wound. needed to prevent "bales." The common counter-
o Often used in the treatment of poisonous bites or utterance is: "Puwera usog!"
wounds, it is also used for a lot of sundry o An alternative remedy is to use the salive of the
complaints: fevers, headaches, toothaches, and person who did the greeting/ comment believed
arthritic pains, usually applied directed to the to have caused the "bales." The finger-tip wet
area of complaint.

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Family Medicine and Community Health 3
Traditional and Complementary Medicine
with the saliva is crossed on the forehead or • Suob
abdomen. o A ritual of postpartum care performed two to
o A young child pinned with an “unton” is believed three weeks after childbirth.
to be more potent in preventing “bales” o Prior to the "suob," whole body massages are
o It is left pinned on, night and day, until the child is performed by the midwife "hilot" for 18-21 days
three or four years of age, at which time she is after a first-born and for 14 days for subsequent
believed to be less prone or more resistant to births.
"bales" or greeting-induced "usog." o On the 18th day, preparations are started for the
• Nabarang ritual of "suob."
o An illness attributed to another form of sorcery, o Nine to ten indigenous herbal ingredients (palad
performed by the specialist called ng buli, payang-payang, sambong, salay,
"mambabarang." The illness is caused by insects balingway, pakpak-lawin, galamay-amo, balat ng
called "barang," identified through suspected sahi, balat ng buboy, bayabas) are collected and
specimens and descriptions as Alphitobius placed in a big wok-like ware, at the center of
laevigatus. The insects look like flies, and are which is placed an indigenous rock (batong-
carefully tended to and fed black ginger by the buhay) of sufficient size for the mother to sit on.
mambabarang in bottle or bamboo tubes. • Tabang
o In themselves, the insects are harmless but o Tabang is one such condition, an illness believed
become dangerous when the mambabarang to be caused by stepping or urinating on a place
decides to use them for purposes of sorcery and where an abortus or fetus (patiyanak or tiyanak)
possession. has been buried.
• Pasma o Angered and awakened, it is common for the rural
o A malady unique to Philippine folk medicine, folk to hear the wailing of a child in the
bound to elements in its physical world, desecrated area.
o One of the favorite go-to diagnosis by the o The angered spirit can cause a wide variety of
albularyos. ailments, but more commonly, edema (swelling
o Accepted as a disease entity in many provinces of the lower extremities) progressing to ascites
and tribal cultures (swelling of the abdomen)
o Most commonly brought about by exposure to • Usog
"cold" and water in its many and varied o Similar to "bales" in its presentation as abdominal
presentations. distress, usually as flatulence or abdominal
o Water is believed to be the vehicle by which this distention, sometimes with severe nausea and
unhealthy coldness enters the body – through fever.
skin pores, through the vagina, cervix and uterus, Like bales, it may be attributed to the body's
or through other avenues of entry imagined by reaction to "verbal missile
folklore or rural science, and if repetitive enough, o The verbal antidote "Puwera usog!" is commonly
eventually manifests as "pasma" in the miscellany used as initially countering therapy, sometimes as
of ways it can present. a preventive utterance when usog is suspected to
• Rabies be likely.
o In the rural areas of Quezon province, animal o Sometimes, usog is attributed to the inhaling of
bites, most commonly by dogs, cause "alimuom," the sulfuric odorous heat vapors that
considerable concern for rabies come from the surface of the earth, especially
o Traditional treatment is usually not sought. after a rain.
o Due to cost and economic constraints, and also o Some give attribution to a "bad or evil wind or air"
because of age-old myths and folklore, initial (masamang hangin) that emanates from
consultation is often with the albularyo who will someone who is supernaturally endowed with
offer a variety of treatments from his bag of such an ability to cause ill health through verbal
folkloric remedies. utterances.
o Tapal ng Utak
▪ If the animal - usually a dog - is C. FOLK MEDICINE AND TREATMENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO PHC
available, it is killed and the brain is • Folk medicine play an important role in rural sectors.
applied to the wound. • Rural poor and marginalized people depend on herbal
▪ In the past, it was not uncommon for remedies and folk treatment.
the rest of the dog to be cooked and • In fact, in remote areas this is the only source of health
consumed as a side dish (pulutan) to care available.
alcoholic imbibitions, a practice that • Some patients in the rural areas first try their traditional
has recently gone into disfavor. knowledge to cure a specific type of illness.

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Family Medicine and Community Health 3
Traditional and Complementary Medicine
• When they do not get any positive response regarding their IV. INTEGRATIVE HEALTH AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONS
health problem that’s the only time they seek for folk
A. DOMAINS OF COMPLEMENTARY AND ALT. MEDICINE
medical practitioner.
• Whole medical systems
• Only when they feel severe problems they go to primary
o Homeopathy, naturopathy, traditional Chinese
health center.
medicine, and Ayurveda
• Mind-body medicine
D. CUSTOMARY USE OF MEDICINE IN PHC
o Meditation, prayer, mental healing, art therapy,
• The main source of knowledge in folk treatment or folk
music therapy, yoga and dance therapy
medicine is our traditional culture. This knowledge helps in
• Biologically based practices
reducing common health disease.
o Dietary supplements, herbal supplements, and
• Different medical plants play significant role to constitute
scientifically unproven therapies such as shark
major form of folk medicines.
cartilage
• A particular medical plant has a specific medicinal value but
• Manipulative and body-based practices
that must have been selected after countless hits and trials
o Spinal manipulation (both chiropractic and
of treatments.
osteopathic) and massage
• Beneficial species were treasured as medicines whereas
• Energy therapies
non-beneficial species must have been discarded.
o Acupuncture, qigong, and reiki
• The useful information about the plant and associated
knowledge of its efficacy were thus acquired through
ageless experience

E. APPROACHES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVT. OF FOLK MEDICINE

• Both the governments (central or state government) should
provide appropriate context or social environment for
proper use of folk medicine.
• Traditional Health education should be introduced in
school education.
o Curriculum should be developed in secondary and
higher secondary schools on the topic of
Indigenous knowledge and medicine to introduce
local public awareness campaigns about the
traditional medicine.
• To ensure right to traditional practices necessary
protection.
• Both the governments should provide financial and legal
support to promote the potential role of folk medicine in
primary health care.
• Both the governments should take responsibility for
sustainable supply of medicinal plants. 1. Mind-Body Medicine
• Botanical garden is necessary for the preservation and • Meditation
protection of traditional medicinal herbs. o Increasing calmness and physical relaxation,
improving psychological balance, coping with
illness, and enhancing overall health and well-
being
• Yoga
o A group of physical, mental, and spiritual
practices or disciplines which originated in
ancient India
o A Hindu spiritual and ascetic Discipline.
o Includes breathing and control, simple meditation
and adoption of specific body postures
o A well established as a treatment
for depression and anxiety.
o Effectively used to treat back pain, heart
conditions, asthma, chronic fatigue,
hypertension, multiple sclerosis, and side effects
of chemotherapy

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Family Medicine and Community Health 3
Traditional and Complementary Medicine
• Tai-Chi 太極拳 o Basically uses long strokes with the following 7
o Combines certain postures, gentle movements, manipulative techniques:
mental focus, breathing, and relaxation ▪ Hilot padampi
originated from China ▪ Hilot pahagpos (pahagod)
o Improve balance and stability in older people and ▪ Hilot papisil
those with Parkinson’s disease ▪ Hilot patulak
▪ Hilot papiga
2. Manipulative and Body-Based Practices ▪ Hilot paikot
• Based on manipulation and/or movement of one or more ▪ Hilot pauga
parts of the body. • Tui-Na 推拿
• Examples include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, o A form of Chinese manipulative therapy often
and massage. used in conjunction with acupuncture,
• Massage Therapy moxibustion, fire cupping, Chinese herbalism, t'ai
o Encompasses many different techniques. chi, and qigong.
o In general, therapists press, rub, and otherwise o A hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese
manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of taoist and martial arts principles in an effort to
the body. bring the eight principles of Traditional Chinese
o People use massage for a variety of health-related Medicine (TCM) into balance.
purposes, including to relieve pain, rehabilitate o “Push & Grasp”
sports injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation, o Continuous manipulations conducted with the
address anxiety and depression, and aid general finger, palm, wrist, elbow, and foot.
well-being. o More use of hands → “hand manipulations”
• Shiatsu o Persistent - continuous
o Utilizes a combination of pressure and assisted- o Forceful – adequate force
stretching techniques o Even – rhythmical, w/ appropriate speed and
• Swedish Massage steady force
o Variety of techniques specifically designed to o Gentle
relax muscles by applying pressure to them o 7 major manipulations
against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in ▪ Rubbing
the same direction as the flow of blood returning ▪ Swaying
to the heart ▪ Traction
o Developed in the 1700s by a Swedish doctor ▪ Grasping
named Per Henrik Ling ▪ Shaking
• Thai Massage ▪ Stretching
o Developed by Buddhist monks in Thailand as a ▪ Clapping
healing modality 2,500 years ago • Acupressure
o Uses passive stretching and gentle pressure along o Application of pressure to the body to affect the
the body’s energy lines to increase flexibility, flow of energy in the meridians according to the
relieve muscle and joint tension and balance the principles of traditional Chinese medicine
body’s energy systems o Believed to be the 'mother of Acupuncture' in
• Tok Sen/Tapping Line/Hammer Massage that it predates the use of needles to stimulate
o Ancient healing procedure is based on the the body's energy flow
therapeutic effects of Thai massage with tapping o Same principles as Acupuncture, but the pressure
of the whole body with special hammer and a is applied directly to the points of the body mainly
stick by using the hands, fingers, thumb or knuckles
o Can be called "Thai massage for gourmets” o Can alleviate many conditions such as headaches,
o Tok – the sound made by hitting a wooden object migraine, period pains, toothache, insomnia,
with another wooden object depression, digestive disorders, dizziness,
o Sen – energy lines that pass through the human morning sickness and nausea, stress and
body. exhaustion
• Hilot o A safe and effective therapy that can benefit
o Starts with suob using herbal decoction to anyone of any age.
detoxify and warm the body. o Can also be used for general preventive health
o It uses banana leaves to hold change in care.
temperature and prevent from external factors to o Points are commonly called "acupuncture
enter the body and virgin coconut oil as lubricant points," "pressure points," "acupoints" or
o "acupressure points."

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Family Medicine and Community Health 3
Traditional and Complementary Medicine
• Reflexology 3. Energy Therapies
o Variant of massage therapy that relies on manual • Involve the use of energy fields.
pressure applied to specific areas of the foot; • They are of two types:
o These areas are believed to correspond to o Biofield therapies
different organs or body systems via meridians. ▪ Intended to affect energy fields that
o Stimulation of these areas is believed to eliminate purportedly surround and penetrate
the blockage of energy responsible for pain or the human body.
disease in the corresponding body part ▪ Some forms of energy therapy
o Comprehensive technique used on the feet, manipulate biofields by applying
hands or other parts of the body where there are pressure and/or manipulating the body
energy points that relate to all organs & all parts by placing the hands in, or through,
of the body. these fields.
o Points are contacted and unblock congestion in ▪ Examples include qi gong, Reiki, and
the corresponding region of the body so that Therapeutic Touch.
circulation improves, elimination improves as o Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies
tension is reduced, and the bodies normalizes and ▪ Involve the unconventional use of
rebalance. electromagnetic fields, such as pulsed
• Die-da (Osteopathy) fields, magnetic fields, or alternating-
o Bone-setting is usually practiced by martial artists current or direct-current fields.
who know aspects of Chinese medicine that apply
to the treatment of trauma and injuries such as Examples of Energy Therapies
bone fractures, sprains, and bruises. • Acupuncture
o Some of these specialists may also use or o Penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic
recommend other disciplines of Chinese medical needles that are manipulated by the hands or by
therapies (or Western medicine in modern times) electrical stimulation
if serious injury is involved. Such practice of bone- o Studies: Stimulates the release of the body’s
setting (整骨 or 正骨) is not common in the West. natural painkillers and affects areas in the brain
• Osteopathic Medicine involved in processing pain
o Modern medicine including prescription drugs, o Help ease types of pain that are often chronic,
surgery, and the use of technology to diagnose such as low-back pain, neck pain,
disease and evaluate injury osteoarthritis/knee pain, and carpal tunnel
o Also offers hands-on diagnosis and treatment syndrome
known as osteopathic manipulative medicine o Help reduce the frequency of tension headaches
(spinal thrust and gentle or impulse techniques) and prevent migraine headaches
o Grounded in principle of natural self-healing • Qigong 氣功
• Chiropractic Medicine o From China, it means breath / energy work
o Focuses on the relationship between the o By a combination of exercises including
structure of the spine and the function meditation, visualization, circulating and working
coordinated by the nervous system, and how this with qi, breathing and movement.
relationship affects the preservation and o A skilled practitioner is able to project Qi to
restoration of health. improve the health of others
o Focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal o The ultimate goal is to improve the balance of the
system and the nervous system, and the effects functions of the body
of these disorders on general health • Tai-Chi 太極拳
o Practice a hands-on, drug-free approach
o Refers to an act of a person performing a duty or
o DCs may assess patients through clinical
function that goes beyond what is authorized by
examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic
this Act and Republic Act No. 7875, otherwise
imaging and other diagnostic interventions to
known as the “National Health Insurance Act of
determine when chiropractic treatment is
1995”, as amended, or their implementing rules
appropriate
and regulations (IRR), and is inimical to the public;
o Main method for restoring this relationship is
spinal manipulation. Other joints and soft tissues • Reiki 霊気
may also be manipulated. o From Japan, it means 'spiritually guided life force
o Chiropractors may provide physical therapies (eg, energy’
heat and cold, electrical stimulation, o Practitioners place their hands lightly on or just
rehabilitation strategies), massage, or above a person, with the goal of directing energy
acupressure and may recommend exercises, to help facilitate the person’s own healing
ergonomic measures, or lifestyle changes. response.

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Family Medicine and Community Health 3
Traditional and Complementary Medicine
• Pranic Healing • Capsule
o From India, energy body or aura & visible physical o Many herbal medicines are available in capsule
body merge with each other form. The herb is ground into a powder and
o Prana or life energy is all around us packed in a capsule.
o Air, water, food, ground and even a huge and o Herbal capsules are generally four times stronger
healthy tree could be a great source of prana or than teas, more concentrated, yet bypass any
life energy. herbal bitterness and are convenient to take.
o A healer projects prana or life energy to another o Four times more concentrated than regular
person for healing the energy body or aura and ground herbs. As noted with herbal teas above,
the chakras or energy centers grinding herbs into powders creates facets on the
o Basic principles of Pranic Healing are cleansing whole herb structure causing potential loss of
and energizing volatile oils.
• Chakra Meditation o Effective potency for powdered herbs is six
o Focuses on certain parts of the body; such as your months to 2 years.
head, heart or any major organs. • Decoction
o 'Chakra' is a wheel o Some herbal medicines cannot be made using
o 7 chakras located throughout the body - infusions and require gentle boiling or decoction
perineum, sacrum, navel, heart, throat, eyebrows to extract the active principles.
or forehead, and the top of the head) o Prepared using the more fibrous parts of the herb
o ‘Energy centers’ with various influences on the such as the roots or bark.
physical and emotional bodies and clearing them o Cold water is poured on the herb and the mixture
from blocked or deficient energy creates healing is then boiled.
and self-awareness. o Through this process different herbs can have
different strengths within the same herbal
4. Biologically-Based Therapies formula.
• Use substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and o Generally, decoctions are stronger than teas.
vitamins. • Infusion
• Examples include health (dietary) supplements, herbal o Herbal infusions are prepared in a similar manner
products, & the use of other so-called natural but as yet to herbal teas.
scientifically unproven therapies (for example, using shark o However, they are steeped longer so they
cartilage to treat cancer). become considerably stronger.
o Infusions are typically used for dried or fresh
Examples of Biologically-Based Therapies herbs, leaves and plants.
• Detoxification Therapy o The herb is added to boiling water and left to
o Helps to rid the body of chemicals & pollutants & stand.
can rejuvenate the body o The liquid is then strained and the herbal
o Forms of detoxification: medicine can be drunk as a tea.
▪ Fasting & specific diets • Tincture
▪ Colon hydrotherapy o Herbal tinctures are prepared from raw herb
▪ Coffee enema materials and soaked in alcohol to extract the
▪ Hyperbaric oxygen active properties from herbs that will not dissolve
• Chelation Therapy in water or in the presence of heat.
o Used to rid the body of unnecessary and toxic o The ground herb is placed in a container filled
metals with 40 per cent alcohol such as vodka and left for
o Adjunct in the treatment and prevention of two to six weeks.
ailments linked to atherosclerosis – coronary • Cordial/Herbal Wine
artery disease, strokes, peripheral vascular o A cordial or herbal wine is similar to a tincture but
disease & arterial blockages generally the herbs are infused in brandy (for a
cordial) or wine, rather than the more highly-
Herbal Medicine Preparations alcoholic liquors most-often used for tinctures.
o This means the constituent extraction may be less
• Tea
profound than in a tincture.
o Probably the most well-known herbal preparation
o However, these preparations are meant to be
in the world.
tasty, and are therefore often enjoyed regardless
o To make a tea, herbs are steeped in hot water for
of their medicinal properties.
several minutes in order to extract beneficial
• Granules
properties.
o Most commonly found in modern Chinese
o Teas are a very mild form of herbal administration
medicine practices.
and can be enjoyed regularly as a beverage.

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Traditional and Complementary Medicine
o Produced by dehydrating herbal decoctions into • Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)
concentrated granulated forms. o Aka. ‘Blumea camphor’
o Tablespoons of the granules are then added to o Diuretic that helps in the excretion of urinary
the water when they are to be consumed. stones
o This method is prescribed by practitioners of o Can also be used for edema
Chinese medicine to make Chinese formulas less o From lecture: sambong has a diuretic-like effect
arduous for the lay person. that is effective in flushing out ureteral stones; it
• Syrup is not a diuretic per se
o Syrups are made by cooking a jam (with herbal • Akalpulko (Cassia alata)
berries) or strong herbal decoction (for leafy o Aka. ‘bayabas-bayabasan’, ‘ringworm bush’
herbs, flowers, bark, or needles) and adding o Treatment of ringworm and skin fungal infection
glycerin, honey, or sugar. • Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis indica)
o Syrups are one of the most delicious forms of o Aka. ‘Chinese honeysuckle’
herbal preparation but should be taken in o Effective in the elimination of worms, particularly
moderation due to their sweetness. Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichinella spiralis.
• Essential Oil o Only the dried mature seeds are medicinal
o Obtained through a distillation process that leads ▪ Crack and ingest the seeds 2hrs after
to a highly concentrated herbal extraction. eating (5-7 seeds for children; 8-10
o Essential oils are so strong that they are mainly seeds for adults)
used for external aromatherapy purposes in drop ▪ If one dose does not eliminate the
doses. worms, wait a week before repeating
o Very rarely are they used internally. the dose
• Pill • Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla)
o Made by combining powdered herbs with honey o Prepared as a tea
or dates and rolling the combination into small o Effective in treating intestinal motility
pills. o Also used as mouthwash since leaves have a high
o Pills can then be dehydrated or kept in the fluoride content
refrigerator and enjoyed as needed. • Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)
• Poultice o Aka. ‘bitter gourd’, ‘bitter melon’
o Fresh herb application on wounded skin. o Most known treatment of non-insulin dependent
o The herb is chopped up into small pieces and diabetes mellitus patients
applied directly to the affected area. • Lagundi (Vitex negundo)
o To keep it in place, the fresh-herb poultice is o Aka. ‘5-leaved chaste tree’
generally covered with cloth and secured with a o Mainly used for the relief of coughs and asthma
knot. • Ulasimang Bato / Pansit-pansitan (Peperomia pellucida)
• Salves o Effective for treatment of arthritis and gout
o Made by decocting herbs in oils, straining the o Leaves can be eaten fresh as a salad or brewed as
physical herbs out, then adding beeswax to the a tea
herbal oil and letting the mixture cool. ▪ For decoction, boil a cup of clean
o Used as lip balms or healing ointments on chopped leaves in 2cups water. Boil for
wounded skin. 15-20 mins. Strain, let cool, and drink a
• Gels cup after meals 3x a day.
o Allow absorption of herbs through the skin. • Bawang (Allium sativum)
o Aloe vera as a conduit in our gels to deliver the o Mainly reduces cholesterol in blood and hence
extracted herbs quickly to the target area. can control blood pressure
o Use gels topically as needed for problems like cut, o From lecture: effects only last for 3 months
scrapes, scars and more. • Bayabas (Psidium guajava)
o Primarily used as an antiseptic to disinfect
Sampung Halamang Gamot (DOH)
wounds
o Also can be used as mouthwash to treat tooth
S – ambong L – agundi
decay and gum infection
A – kapulko U – lasimang Bato
• Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii)
N – iyog-niyogan B – awang
o Aka. ‘peppermint’
T – saang-gubat B – ayabas
o Used as analgesic to relieve body aches and pains
A – mpalaya Y – erba Buena
o Can be taken internally as decoction or applied
externally by pounding the leaves and put
directed on affected area

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Family Medicine and Community Health 3
Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Sizing Up Philippine Herbs: Indications prescribed by the National o (+) amylase inhibitory activity
Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants o Hepatoprotective in paracetamol-induced liver
damage
Table 2. • Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei)
Herb Indication o Aka. tomorrow’s leaf
Akapulko Skin fungal infection o Large herb that grows primarily in the central
Bayabas Antiseptic region of Japan
Niyog-niyogan Ascariasis o Roots, leaves, and stems used as medicine
o Used for GERD, stomach ulcers, high blood
Lagundi Cough
pressure, high cholesterol, gout, constipation,
Sambong Urinary stones
and hay fever
Yerba Buena Analgesic
• Tubang-bakod (Jatropha curcas)
Tsaang Gubat Antispasmodic
o Oil of seeds used as a drastic purgative.
Bawang Lower cholesterol
o Decoction of roots used a cure for diarrhea.
Ulasimang Bato / o Roots used as antidote for snake bites.
Lower uric acid
Pansit-Pansitan o Poultice of bark used for sprains and dislocations.
Ampalaya Lower blood sugar o Sap is used for toothaches.
• Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)
Other Herbal Medicines o Aka. ‘Queen of fruits’
• Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) o Rich in powerful antioxidants.
o Aka. Horseradish tree, Miracle tree o May have anti-inflammatory properties.
o Its leaves contain: o May have anticancer effects.
▪ 2x more CHON than milk, o May promote weight loss.
▪ 3x more K+ than bananas, o Supports blood sugar control.
▪ 4x more Vitamin A than carrots, o Promotes a healthy immune system.
▪ 7x more Vitamin C than oranges o Helps maintain healthy skin
o Best nutritional aid for lactating mothers • Bignay (Antidesma bunius)
o Helps stimulate metabolism o Young leaves are boiled an taken as treatment for
• Oregano (Origanum vulgare) syphilitic affections
o Burns o Aphrodisiac, Bark for medication should be used
▪ Leaves are bruised and applied to with caution; contains toxic substance.
centipede and scorpion bites o Bignay tea could support to cure and treatments
o Headache against:
▪ Applied to temples and forehead held ▪ arthiritis, diabetes, myoma, prostate,
in place by a bandage cancer, ulcer, dysmenorrhea, sinusitis,
o Dyspepsia and asthma fever and flu
▪ Leaves in infusion or syrup used as • Aloe vera / Sabila
aromatic and carminative o Treatment of dandruff, falling hair and baldness.
• Tawa Tawa (Euphorbia hirta) o Sabila juice or sap are massage to the scalp;
o Aka. Gatas-gatas, Asthma plant o Suppository for hemorrhoids, conjunctivitis
o Known as gatas-gatas because of the healing o Leaf juice is applied to the outer eyelid
properties of its milky juice; contains triterpenes, o In large doses, as purgative.
phytosterols, tannins, polyphenols, and • Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa)
flavonoids o For diarrhea, constipation, inflammation of
o Folkloric treatment for dengue in the Philippines kidneys, dysuria and other urinary dysfunctions.
▪ Has an effect which may help increase
in blood platelets after ingestion of a Herbal Medicines from the Chinese Materia Medica 本草綱目
boiled decoction of the plant • Qinghao 青蒿 (Artemisia annua)
• Serpentina (Rauvolfia serpentine) o Aka. sweet wormwood
o Aka. snakeroot, serpent wood o Liver, Gallbladder & Kidney
o Can reduce anxiety o Bitter, pungent & cold
o Aids in relieving insomnia and mental disorders o Anti-malarial; derivative of artemisin
such as schizophrenia • Mahuang 麻黄 (Ephedra sinica)
• Insulin plant (Chamaecostus cuspidatus)
o Lung and Urinary Bladder
o Aka. spiral flag
o pungent-spicy, bitter and warm
o Leaf of the plant which contains corsolic acid
o Diaphoretic effect for febrile illness
helps in producing insulin
o For short-term respiratory congestion
o Anti-hyperglycaemic
o Diuresis for edema; cough, asthma
o Anti-proliferative / apoptotic

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Family Medicine and Community Health 3
Traditional and Complementary Medicine
• Chrysanthemum/Juhua 菊花 (Chrysanthemum indicum) • Important aspects of Ayurvedic Medicine:
o Lung and Liver o Eat a colourful, flavorful diet
o Pungent, sweet, bitter and slightly cold o Strengthen of digestive power
o Fever, chills, headache, sore throat o Get abundant restful sleep
o Red, swelling and painful eyes o Live in tune with nature
o Kidney yin deficiency o Exercise: Tune in to body
• Hawthorn fruit/Shanza 山楂 (Crataegus spp.) o Dosha
o Spleen, Stomach and Liver
o Sour, sweet and slightly warm Homeopathy and Naturopathy
o Food retention esp. fatty food • Homeopathy
o Post-partum abdominal pain, lochia due to blood o Medical system based on the belief that the body
stagnation can cure itself.
• Wolfberry/Goji 枸杞 (Lycium spp.) o Those who practice it use tiny amounts of natural
o Lung, Liver, and Kidney substances, like plants and minerals. They believe
o Sweet and neutral these stimulate the healing process.
o Dizziness, blurred vision, poor eyesight • Naturopathy
o Soreness of back and knees, nocturnal emissions o System that uses natural remedies to help the
o Cough body heal itself.
o Embraces many therapies, including herbs,
Is it an herbal or not? massage, acupuncture, exercise, and nutritional
counselling.
• Products to which chemically defined active substances
o Goal of naturopathic medicine is to treat the
have been added, including synthetic compounds and/or
whole person that means mind, body and spirit.
isolated constituents from herbal materials, are not
o It also aims to heal the root causes of an illness,
considered to be herbal.
not just stop the symptoms.
5. Whole Medical Systems
Traditional Chinese Medicine 中醫
Ayurveda आयुर्वेद
• TCM has its roots in the ancient philosophy of Taoism,
• Began thousands of years ago in India
which originated in China more than 3,000 years ago
• Aims to restore harmony by questioning, observing,
• Concept is based from Yang and Yin 陰 陽 , Meridians,
touching, and classifying patients
Syndrome Differentiations, and Five Element Theory 五行

• Practices in TCM:
o Moxibustion
o Acupuncture
o Tai-Chi
o Cupping/Bentosa

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Family Medicine and Community Health 3
Traditional and Complementary Medicine
o Chinese Herbal Medicine o Patients oriented toward CAM tend to be
o Massage skeptical of preventive interventions, especially
o Facial examination childhood vaccination.
o Tongue diagnosis
2. Secondary Prevention
Acupuncture • Integrative medicine has the potential to improve rates of
• Originated in China over 5,000 years ago screening and uptake of preventive services through an
• Based on the belief that health is determined by a balanced emphasis on a strong therapeutic alliance, prevention,
flow of Qi – the vital life energy present in all living teaching, interprofessional, and holistic care.
organisms • CAM approaches have demonstrated promise in treating
• Disease is due to an internal imbalance of yang and yin early disease or risk factors such as:
o Leads to blockage in the flow of qi (vital energy) o lipid profile
along pathways known as meridians. o controlling serum glucose
o Qi can be unblocked by using acupuncture at o reducing blood pressure
certain points on the body that connect with • Combination with comprehensive lifestyle change, mind–
these meridians. body interventions, and mainstream preventive
• WHO has cited over 70 conditions that acupuncture can recommendations with a strong therapeutic alliance, the
treat: potential to improve outcomes rationally follows
o Migraine • Integrative approach can be used to enhance adherence
o Asthma with conventional therapies, such as:
o Gastrointestinal disorders o Nutritional supplement coenzyme Q10 – reduce
o Paralysis from stroke statin-induced myopathy
o Probiotics – reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea
B. RELATED INTEGRATIVE PRACTICE FIELDS o Licorice and its derivatives – potentiate the
• Integrative medicine requires a paradigm shift from the effects of cortisone and reduce non-steroidal
disease-centred approach of conventional biomedicine to anti-inflammatory drug–associated gastropathy
an approach in which patient values and participation of
patients are central. (Maizes, 1999)
3. Tertiary Prevention
1. Holistic Nursing • Many lifestyle programs demonstrate effectiveness for
• Made and introduced by Florence Nightingale tertiary prevention of cardiometabolic disease
• All nursing practice that has healing the whole person as its • Integrative healthcare approaches for chronic disease can
goal. improve functionality, reduce morbidity, improve quality of
• Based on a philosophy of living and being that is grounded life, and directly influence disease processes.
in caring, relationship, and interconnectedness • Integrative medicine has the potential to add to obesity
• Some common techniques and therapies used by holistic prevention and control efforts by emphasizing nutrition,
nurses: stress reduction, and exercise.
o Acupuncture • CAM therapies for pain control vary in demonstrated
o Assist patients in stress management techniques efficacy, spanning mind–body therapies such as meditation
o Aromatherapy and biofeedback, to tai chi, acupuncture, yoga, hypnosis,
o Massage chiropractic, nutritional interventions, herbal medicines,
o Hypnosis massage or combinations thereof.
o Hydrotherapy • Nutritional supplements such as:
o Chinese and Eastern healing practices o Fish oil, chromium, alpha-lipoic acid, herbal
medicines, and mind–body techniques have been
C. INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE ACROSS THE PREVENTIVE SPECTRUM used to treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
1. Primary Prevention o Hyperlipidemia can be treated with therapeutic
• One of the means to promote lifestyle change is diets consisting of functional foods, nutritional
“modelling”. supplements, and herbal medicines.
• Physicians that practice healthy behaviours tend to o Manual therapies such as massage and
emphasize these behaviours in patient care. acupuncture can be useful for osteoarthritis.
• A number of CAM whole systems consider dietary habits o An anti-inflammatory diet, nutritional
and therapeutic nutrition as a cornerstone of health, supplements, manual therapies, and other CAM
including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and therapies have shown promise in the
naturopathy. management of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Challenges in synergizing primary prevention with
Integrative medicine:

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