Working with Hilot out of Love

Last May 18, 2025- we have shared to our Hilot Binabaylan Alignment Trainee the Hilot Treatment which everyone knows as Bentusa Fire Cupping. Everyone had the opportunity to place bentusa cup on their own skin by sharing different methods on how to apply it. What I emphasize how to make vacuum using fire.

Coin and Paper Method

In this procedure, the manghihilot prepare an old coin and tissue paper. Then wrap the tissue paper along the old coin. The coin will serve as a stand and place it on the area you are to place the bentusa cup. then burn the paper and as it burn carefully place the bentusa cup in order to create vacuum to suck the skin.

2. Cotton and Ginger Method

In this procedure, you will need to slice a ginger which is wide enough to fit the mouth of our bentusa cup. Then soak a piece of cotton to 70% ethyl alcohol (which I prefer to recommend rather than Isopropyl alcohol). Then place the ginger slice on the area where you are going to place the bentusa cup and the soaked cotton. After that light it on fire and gently place the bentusa cup on the area to be treated.

DISADVANTAGE OF PAPER AND GINGER METHOD

Aside from safety concerns, the burnt paper or cotton placed over the area will produce smoke. That will be trapped inside the bentusa cup when it already created a vacuum or reverse pressure. It is said that burning tissue paper releases several chemicals including carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which both contribute to air pollution. additionally, burning paper can produce dioxins, which are highly toxic and can have harmful effects on human health and the environment.

While burning soaked cotton on 70% Ethyl Alcohol have a health hazards such as:

Respiratory Issues – Inhaling the fumes can cause irritation to the lungs, leading to coughing, shortness of breath, or dizziness. Prolonged exposure may contribute to respiratory damage.
Skin and Eye Irritation – Ethyl alcohol and its combustion byproducts can cause skin irritation or eye discomfort, especially if direct contact occurs.
Toxic Exposure – Incomplete combustion can release carbon monoxide (CO), which is highly toxic and can lead to headaches, nausea, or even unconsciousness in high concentrations.
Carcinogenic Risk – Burning organic materials may produce aldehydes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which have been linked to long-term health risks
Neurological Effects – Exposure to high concentrations of ethanol vapors can cause dizziness, confusion, or impaired coordination

Health Hazards of Burning Tissue Paper.

Burning tissue paper can pose several health hazards, including:

Respiratory Issues – The smoke contains fine particles and harmful gases that can irritate the lungs, leading to coughing, shortness of breath, and asthma.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – Incomplete combustion releases carbon monoxide (CO), which can cause dizziness, headaches, and even unconsciousness in high concentrations.
Toxic Chemical Exposure – Burning paper can release dioxins, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which may contribute to long-term health risks.
Skin and Eye Irritation – The smoke and ash can cause eye discomfort and skin irritation, especially in enclosed spaces.
Carcinogenic Risk – Some chemicals released during burning, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), have been linked to cancer.

There are other methods which Manghihilot employ in order to place the Bentusa Cups over the body but the one that Hilot Academy recommend is the Torch Method. In this method you will need a forceps, cotton, 70 % Ethyl Alcohol, Kidney Basin, Lighter or lighted candle. Before you place the bentusa cup over the body, be sure to lubricate it with Lana healing oil. Then soak the cotton with 70 % Ethyl Alcohol clipped with a forceps then put it in fire then place it inside the bentusa cup which is positioned near the area to be treated and manually place the cup over the area to be treated.

Since the torch method also involve burning of cotton which has biochemical health hazards, let us explore other form of bentusa cupping.

Though using Plastic Bentusa cups does not burning paper or cotton, it still has health hazard because of the plastic meterials being used. So, here are its health hazards:

Chemical Leaching – Some plastics contain Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which can leach into the skin when exposed to heat, potentially disrupting hormones.
Microplastic Exposure – Over time, plastic cups may release microplastics, which can be absorbed by the body and may contribute to inflammation and toxicity.
Skin Irritation – Certain plastics may cause skin reactions, especially if they contain chemical additives that interact with heat or oils.
Reduced Effectiveness – Plastic cups may not create a strong vacuum compared to glass or silicone, leading to less effective therapy.
Environmental Impact – Disposable plastic cups contribute to plastic waste, which can harm ecosystems and increase exposure to pollutants.

So, if all of these have health hazards, what other material we can recommend using?

But before we go further, bentusa has primary purpose of stimulating blood flow, relieving muscle tension and promote healing. Other health benefits of having bentusa are the following:

Muscle Pain Relief – Helps alleviate chronic muscle pain, stiffness, and tension.
Improved Blood Circulation – Enhances oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscles, speeding up recovery.
Detoxification – Draws toxins to the skin’s surface, aiding in their removal through the lymphatic system.
Relaxation & Stress Relief – The gentle suction and warmth reduce stress and promote relaxation.
espiratory Benefits – Can help with asthma, colds, and respiratory infections by loosening tight muscles around the chest.
Skin Health – May improve skin conditions like acne and eczema by increasing circulation.
Headache & Migraine Relief – Helps relieve tension headaches and migraines.
Holistic Healing – Addresses emotional and energetic imbalances, promoting overall well-being

Thats how powerful bentusa can be specially paired with Hilot Pahid or Massage.

In the video above, we have seen that the material being used for cupping is Carabao horn. This kind of cupping treatment is known as Tandok,though it seems similar to Bentusa, it has different purpose which is to remove venom, rabies and tetanus from wound using animal horn, such as those from deer, goat or carabao.

It is said that Tandok has the following health benefits for the receiver of the treatment:

Detoxification – Practitioners believe it helps remove toxins from the body.
Pain Relief – Some claim it alleviates muscle pain, arthritis, and joint stiffness.
Improved Circulation – The suction effect may stimulate blood flow Removing blood may stimulate the production of new red blood cells, potentially improving circulation
Traditional Healing – Used in rural areas where modern medicine is less accessible.
Iron Regulation – Bloodletting can help reduce excess iron levels in the blood, which may be beneficial for individuals with hemochromatosis.
Lower Blood Pressure – Some studies suggest that donating blood regularly may help maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
Detoxification – Traditional practitioners believe bloodletting helps remove toxins from the body.
Migraine Relief – Some historical accounts suggest bloodletting was used to alleviate headaches and migraines.

TAWAK

We could say that Tawak is the mother of all these treatment method that requires suction. This treatment involve direct suction by the mouth of a traditional medicine practitioner known as mananawak, to remove venoms, toxins or infections from wounds caused by animal bites. But these technique or treatment method also has been used by poor people who has no money to send their children to proper medical care facility to remove mucus from their infant child by directly sucking the mucus that obstruct the passage of air to provide relief.

Uses and Beliefs

Practitioners believe Tawak can help extract poison from snake bites, rabies from dog bites, and toxins from wounds.
It is often used as an alternative to modern medical treatments, especially in areas where access to hospitals and vaccines is limited.
Some communities still rely on Tawak due to cultural beliefs and the high cost of medical care

Concerns and Risks

Medical experts warn that Tawak is not scientifically proven to cure rabies or venomous bites.
Direct suction can expose both the healer and the patient to infections and diseases.
Delaying proper medical treatment can lead to serious health risks, including untreated rabies, which is fatal