In the Website of Philippine Medical Tourism which can be found by following the link, they defined Alternative Medicine as follows:
Alternative medicine is therapeutic or preventive health care practices, such as homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, and herbal medicine, that do not follow generally accepted medical methods and may not have a scientific explanation for their effectiveness.
Alternative medicine practices are often based in belief systems not derived from modern science. They may therefore incorporate spiritual, metaphysical, or religious underpinnings, untested practices, pre-modern medical traditions, or newly developed approaches to healing. If an alternative medical approach, initially untested, is subsequently shown to be safe and effective, it may then be adopted by conventional practitioners and no longer considered “alternative”.
Here the organisation have mentioned the healing modalities that do not follow generally accepted medical methods and “may” not have a scientific explanation for their effectiveness. On their statement, the organisation is also uncertain with their statement and have not exerted effort on proving the ineffectiveness of the said modality but have declared that the practices are based on belief systems not derived from modern science. But how would this so called Alternative Medicine be proven if the authority themselves do not put their time and effort on proving the modalities to be effective or not? All modern inventions starts with a belief that everything is possible. Even the cure on cancer or certain chronic disease starts with a firm belief that a cure can be made. Philippine Medical Tourism is junking out the ideas of Alternative Medicine because it is based on belief system.
Well for us, the real Alternative Medicine as they defined are the Modern Allophatic Medicine that replace the Traditional and Natural Medicine practised by mankind. In the Philippines, Hilot is our Traditional and Natural Medicine and modern science must take time to prove its effectiveness. Our Ancestors have proven it economically safe and effective. The Use of herbs which we can just gather along our yard and neighbourhood without monetary expenses. The simple skills of massage incorporating herbs would give relief and eventually cure to any ailments.
For the common people like me, let us value what is cost effective and safe. The food that been prepared to us by our lolo and lola are a good medicine for us to sustain our health. The herbs which we can found in our kitchen such as the garlic, ginger, onion, pepper, chili can be a quintessence of wellness that could save us from expensive medication and drugs.
Hilot Academy of Binabaylan 