I start to cultivate Makabuhay Vine way back 2013 as i need it to make a charm to improve health and long life. Though this herb was commonly known to have an abortive properties, I still hold on to the meaning of it’s name which is makabuhay or the one that promotes life. As Manghihilot or Traditional Healer, we do not just work on manipulating the Physical Body of the person to treat them but we also make medicine that could restore and maintain good health. A person Health for us as we see it does not limit to the Physical Movement of the person but we see also his/her emotional, mental, social and spiritual health as a basis for Holistic Wellness. And the medicine we provide is not also limited on Physical Manipulation of the Body but also we do preparation of Medicine for internal consumption, topical application or to carry it in their person such as in the use of Amulets, Talismans or Charms.
On my personal practice and use of Makabuhay, i mix the dried herbs and vines to alcoholic drink such as rum in a tincture and add few drops to a glass of water before i sleep. The vines can also be added to make a docoction of coconut oil to be applied on the part of the body that is affected by rheumatism and arthritis.
Studies suggest that Makabuhay has cardiotonic, antioxidant, antidiarheal, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiproliferative, hypolipidemic, antimalarial, and antinociceptive properties. According to Medical Health Guide, the list are the Traditional Medicinal Uses of Makabuhay vine:
Makabuhay roots, stems and leaves are used as herbal treatment for fevers, malaria. Makabuhay leaves and roots are pounded then dissolved in cold water. Applied with a soft cloth over the nape, forehead, underarms and other body parts to bring down the body temperature.
Makabuhay poultice is used to treat gout, arthritis, and rheumatism by reducing pain and edema.
Makabuhay is used to treat skin diseases (athlete’s foot, scabies, etc.), promotes wound healing and alleviate skin itching. Makabuhay tonic is believed to promote overall good health and longevity, improves memory, improves skin tone and texture, and provides energy.
Makabuhay tonic is also used to treat fever and malaria. Makabuhay tonic is used to treat gastrointestinal and digestive problems, which includes diarrhea, hyperacidity, abdominal pains, gas pains (kabag), vomiting, dyspepsia, dysentery, colitis, constipation, loss of appetite and even worm infestation.
Makabuhay is also used in the treatment of diabetes, heart problems, hepatitis, anemia, impotence, tuberculosis, jaundice,
It was September of 2019 when Jeremy Pascal and his wife Gerone of Grenoble, France became our Student here in the Academy. As they spent days of training with us, it is through Jeremy that we have received and important gift that we still enjoy today or even on the days to come and it is the water Kefir Grains.
What is water kefir grains?
Water kefir grains are clusters of good bacteria and yeasts living in a symbiotic relationship. They are held together by a polysaccharide (dextran) that produce Lactobacillus Hilgardii. These clusters of bacteria, yeast and polysaccharide look like crystals or grains of jelly that makes the kefir water work as probiotic drink. Water Kefir Grains is also known as Tibicos, Japanese Water Crystals, and California Bees. There is a speculation that Water Kefir Grains originated in Mexico, however, there are stories that it originates in Tibet, the Caucasus Mountians, and the southern peninsula of Ukraine.
What are the Health benefits of drinking Water Kefir?
Water Kefir is a probiotic beverage linked to various health benefit including improved immunity and even protection against cancer.
Probiotic are a type of beneficial bacteria found in your gut or microorganism that lives in our intestine. It plays an integral role in almost every aspect of health, from cancer prevention to immune function and beyond.
In this time of Pandemic of the Coronavirus Disease, everyone of us must have a strong immune system because it is our body’s natural defense system. It’s an intricate network of cells, tissues, and organs that bands together to defend our body against invaders. Those invaders can include bacteria, viruses, parasites, even a fungus, all with the potentials that can make us sick.
Aside from drinking Probiotic Drinks as Immune Booster food supplement, there are other natural ways we could strengthen our Immunity and they are the following:
Get enough sleep.
Eating Green Leafy Vegetables
Eating more healthy fats
Eat more fermented foods or take a probiotic supplements.
Limit added sugars
Engage in moderate exercise
Stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water
Manage our stress level
Take food supplement wisely
By taking this steps in maintaining your immune system strong may prevent you from having illness.
I remember as a kid when we have cough and fever, my mother will pick up some lagundi leaves, oregano and ginger. She will pound it together and extract the juice of the combined herbs and make us drink the juice. She will add little amount of sugar so that it may taste good.
Lagundi aka Vitex Negudo
Lagundi or Vitex Negudo was known in English as the 5 leaves chaste tree. It is one of the 10 Herbs that the Philippine Department of Health approved to be known as Herbal Medicine. Though there are lot herbs can be found in the Philippines that shows potency as medicine but only 10 were approved to be classified as medicine and one of it is Lagundi.
Lagundi has been tested clinically to be effective in treatments of cold, flu, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and pharyngitis. With the rise of Coronavirus Disease we have seen Caloocan City is distributing Paracetamol and Lagundi as part of their help to the citizen in battling Covid 19. Though there is no record that it has been used to treat the disease but it plays role in the prevention of the spread of the virus. As a herbal medicine that been recognized to treat respiratory problem, this might be a promising herb that also has a potential relief or even cure to the Coronavirus Disease.
Though at this moment, the role of Hilot in the Philippines works on preventive and promotive health care, taking lagundi as tea will protect an individual from having the symptoms of the disease as long as the guidelines on social distancing, hand washing and physical fitness is observed. Healthcare professionals can also consider administering this herbs to treat the symptoms as it is used to treat colds, fever, flu, chronic bronchitis, pharyngitis, rheumatism, dyspepsia, boils, diarrhea and certain skin and digestive complaints.
Below are the list of traditional use of Lagundi:
Expectorant/Cough Remedy
Sore throat relief
Anti-asthma/Bronchodilator
Antioxidant
Anti-inflammatory
Diuretic
Antinociceptive/Analgesic
Anti-allergy
Antihyperglycemic
Antimicrobial
Anthelmintic /Antiparasitic
Promotes wound healing
Hepatoprotective
Improves digestion
Carminative
Relieves anxiety
Promotes relaxation
Insecticidal
Reduces risk of cancer
As Traditional Medicine Practitioner, we recommend you to see your healthcare professional or Certified Manghihilot before taking any herbal remedy. It is good to identify the symptoms first in order to have a proper treatment that will result to a successful cure of any ailments. Self Medication is discouraged and right procedure of herbal administration is required.
For more information on Philippine Traditional Hilot and Healthcare, you may contact me at +639952467040 or connect with me at Facebook at Rolando Gomez Comon.
3D illustration of Coronavirus, virus which causes SARS and MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
With the rise of this pandemic outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019, many people around the world are asked by our government to stay at home and be safe. This is one of the model that we as human being can beat the spread of the Coronavirus Disease which is by not being exposed and contaminated with this pestilence that is spreading to fast.
Staying at home means that you only connect with people that you trust. You are not exposed to strangers that you do not personally know outside of your home and the person you might encounter outside be a carrier of the deadly virus. But it seems that staying at home is difficult to do. The more we are asked to stay at home and be safe, the more we struggle to go out and have the chance to be infected with the virus. This is the current problem of the world government right now aside from the virus, are the people or the citizens specially here in the Philippines. It seems that this simple ordinance of our government is the most difficult law to observe. People think of it as an abuse of authority and violation of the government to human rights. Well our government can explain themselves in implementing this law but to the commoners it will be difficult for them to understand.
As Manghihilot we already have recognize the danger of what can this virus bring on to us, but we must also understand why do people around the world are having difficulty to stay at home?
Baby comes out from her mother’s womb through C Section
Probably the first reason why is it difficult for people to stay at home because as human we are designed to come out like when we are born into this world, we are pushed out from our mothers womb. And when we are growing, we are being cultivated to go out of our home such as playing in the park or hanging out at the mall with friends, buying stuffs at store, market or groceries. We even go out of our home to study at school and even worship God in a church.
Almost all human activities requires of going out of our home and this because of the progress of commercialization of almost every thing. We are being influenced that all of our needs to have a better life can be found outside our home. Such as in having a good income opportunity you have to go out of your house to work in a company that pays good salary. The Filipino way of thinking that working in Manila or even abroad is much better that staying at home. But what we all forget is that life started inside and not outside.
When egg is broken by an outside force, for sure that egg is dead. But when it breaks out from inside, there is new life that we can expect in this world.
At this pandemic outbreak of the Coronavirus, our planet is transforming into a new world. Many of us may not understand what is happening, but one thing for sure is that we are being taught to go back to the basic. And the basic thing that we need to learn is to stay at home. Staying at home right now can be likened into a seed planted on the ground. We need to be inside the earth so that we could germinate life. It is the same thing that happen to a caterpillar, he weave his cocoon and stays there until he is transformed into a beautiful butterfly.
Transformation will not happen if we stay outside. Today is a day where we change our selves into something beautiful and wonderful. This is a wonderful time for us to heal and be re created into something worth of praise and glory. This is the time for us now to be part of Human Evolution, which is strong and healthy and at the same time united in love with our Family.
Aloe Vera or Sabila is my very first herb that i like most. It actually is my favorite and for me i called this as my personal sacred Plant. I grew it as a child and even filled the wall of our fence with it. I thought it was just an ornamental plant but when i grow up I learn it has a powerful medicine within it. I also have seen its flower. Yes! Through time it gives flower and it smells sweet. Though i rarely see it blooming in pots and i don’t know when it will give flower once again. I’m so sad that i was not able to capture it flowers through film because that time i don’t have camera nor mobile phone that has camera. Yeah! I’m very old school that only knows soil and its healing herbs.
Aloe Vera or Aloe Barbadensis Miller has been known for its medicinal and cosmetic purposes. I have read that this plant was used to embalm ancient Pharaohs of Egypt as well as Jesus Christ. The word Aloe has an arabic origin which means Shinning Bitter substance while Vera is a Latin word meaning True. In my old notes on healing herbs, i found that this herb can endure extreme stress such as i test it hanging on the air without soil and water for about a year but still it is alive and didn’t dried up. It taught me spiritually to become patient, tolerant and humble. As i work on it, i found its power to be amazing. I apply it to open wounds, burns and even on skin infection. Our Elders have taught that this plant is a good hair grower and can heal all kinds of skin disease. And later on i found out that we can scrape of the white gel on it and eat it directly.
In making Herbal Healing Oil i add 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel in distilling coconut oil with mix herbs and when i put my finger in it while boiling i didn’t get burn.
It is found out that Aloe Vera has many active potential constituents such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugar, lignin, saponins, salicylic acid and amino acids.
Vitamins: It contains vitamins A (beta-carotene), C and E, which are antioxidants. It also contains vitamin B12, folic acid, and choline. Antioxidant neutralizes free radicals.
Enzymes: It contains 8 enzymes: aliiase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase, and peroxidase. Bradykinase helps to reduce excessive inflammation when applied to the skin topically, while others help in the breakdown of sugars and fats.
Minerals: It provides calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc. They are essential for the proper functioning of various enzyme systems in different metabolic pathways and few are antioxidants.
Sugars: It provides monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) and polysaccharides: (glucomannans/polymannose). These are derived from the mucilage layer of the plant and are known as mucopolysaccharides. The most prominent monosaccharide is mannose-6-phosphate, and the most common polysaccharides are called glucomannans [beta-(1,4)-acetylated mannan]. Acemannan, a prominent glucomannan has also been found. Recently, a glycoprotein with antiallergic properties, called alprogen and novel anti-inflammatory compound, C-glucosyl chromone, has been isolated from Aloe vera gel.
Anthraquinones: It provides 12 anthraquinones, which are phenolic compounds traditionally known as laxatives. Aloin and emodin act as analgesics, antibacterials and antivirals.
Fatty acids: It provides 4 plant steroids; cholesterol, campesterol, β-sisosterol and lupeol. All these have anti-inflammatory action and lupeol also possesses antiseptic and analgesic properties.
Hormones: Auxins and gibberellins that help in wound healing and have anti-inflammatory action.
Others: It provides 20 of the 22 human required amino acids and 7 of the 8 essential amino acids. It also contains salicylic acid that possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Lignin, an inert substance, when included in topical preparations, enhances penetrative effect of the other ingredients into the skin. Saponins that are the soapy substances form about 3% of the gel and have cleansing and antiseptic properties.
On basic uses of Aloe Vera, it is effective on wound or burn healing. I remember my nephew when he was 3 years old playing around my kitchen on our Canteen and he accidentally placed his whole hands on a boiling pot of soup. It was too hot because we boil it continually in low fire using fire wood for our Mami Soup and thankfully i have my aloe vera around and apply it directly, and amazingly no trace of burn can be found on my nephew.
Another testimony on the effectiveness of Aloe Vera is when my younger sister accidentally hammered her little finger. We brought her to the hospital and the doctor said she need to undergo surgery removal of her finger or stem cell treatment. We do not have enough money for the surgery so we just went back home and apply aloe vera on her finger. With patience and faith in God her finger was cured and no trace of being hammered can be seen.
Aloe Vera Gel can also be taken internally to treat stomach ulcer. It is also used to clean up our intestine and give us good bowel movement. It is said that Aloe Vera can also use to lower blood sugar and it has antioxidant to boost our immunity.
Plant aloe vera in your home it may be handy and helpful for you someday as it will heal you from your illness or it may be your living companion in your house that will listen to your prayers.
My Tita call this as Tahebo but when i conduct close study to this tree i learn that it is a Mulberry. I get this when it was still young at Cupang, Muntinlupa to the old place where Tita Edith lives. And now i see it bearing many berries.
I have utilized the leaves to make tea and have administered it to nanay to lower down her blood pressure as well as to relieve her constipation. Tatay made a joke that when nanay poop it will be like silk because Mulberry Leaf are used to feed the silk worm.
I use also the dried powdered leave of mulberry in making herbal tablet which i call as Amulaser.
Mulberry leaves are highly nutritious as it contains polyphenol anti oxidants, vitamins c, zinc, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
There are study that says that Mulberry leaves can help lower blood sugar, cholesterol and inflammation. These attributes are useful in fighting heart disease and diabetes.
I believe that this leaf can do more when it comes to our health. As member of Luntiang Aghama that advocates Philippine Traditional Medicine through Hilot Academy, Mulberry Leaf can help improve our healthcare delivery by making it affordable and within easy reach.
Even before the Christian Era, our ancestors already know how to pray. It is documented that since the late Neolithic or before 2000 BC. the Ancient Filipino already know how to pray. This is evidenced through the cave wall writing in Angono, Province of Rizal through the Angono-Binangonan Petroglyph.
The engravings are mostly symbolic representations and are associated with healing and sympathetic magic.
This natural monument in the Province of Rizal shows that we as Filipino believe that there is a Higher Power than us that could provide us healing when we are sick. And in search for that Higher power we have learned how to pray. And for us we believe that Prayer has an amazing power to heal us in time of illness.
But how can Prayer Heal?
People recognize that they are sick when they feel it as secondary reaction to the main disorder of their internal system. It is through our feelings that we describe our illness. When we assess people when they are sick, we ask them how they feel. We usually measure their pain as well as the limitations it gives when we are sick.
Prayer can help people get well and have healing since it works towards the mind and emotion. Prayer is a form of Divine Communication that we express our thoughts, and our thoughts describe through prayer what we feel; and our feelings/ emotions as a reaction to the stimulus that been made. Prayer is a form of voicing out what is within us such as in a distressful situation we call out for Help.
In praying for Healing, we recognize that we are in need; that something is not going right within us that make us ill. By recognizing that something that is not right, we are given counsel by our higher selves the thing we need to do so that we may feel better and restore wellness back into our life.
Lana at Liwanag, our Tools in moving prayer
Hilot is a form of Prayer in Action. Action is needed when we pray as we have taught it in the Shrine.
Prayer in Action
Every action that we do in Hilot, whether in Pulse Reading Analysis, Tawas Spiritual Diagnosis, Suob/ Palina Ritual, Kilubansa, Dagdagay, Bentusa and Masahe are all form of Prayer and communication of the manghihilot to the Divine Self of the Patient we are healing. Thus as Manghihilot, our Orasyon or Prayer is not useless but it has direct effect of healing to relieve the person from illness and dis Ease.
Through out our writings and teachings here at Hilot Academy, we have taught that the medicine for our illness can be found within our yard. The herbs that grows within our community is our best medicine for our illness. But the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease that originates in China and now have spread world wide that it is declared as Pandemic, where can we find its cure?
We might not be able to help out our brothers and sisters in the Medical and Scientific Field, but the Wisdom of our Ancestors can be handy in preventing the spread of this disease.
As Manghihilot according to the principles of herbalism that we practice, we do not deal with the disease but rather we deal with the strengthening the body of man in order to heal our selves. The First Principle of Traditional and Alternative Healthcare is that we believe that man has own ability to heal our selves. That is why when we are sick complete bed rest and taking a lot of fluids are advised until the symptoms are gone.
The next thing we ensure is that the place where we live is thoroughly clean and sanitize so that re infection will not happen. Cleanliness and personal hygiene is necessary. We also have taught that in order to benefit from Healing, it is not only the body of the person we need to treat but also the environment. Remember our Gold Fish analogy?
When one of the Gold Fish is sick, we remove them from their aquarium and clean the aquarium, and the sick gold fish is separated to the healthy one so that it will not contaminate and infect the healthy one.
Sponge bathing is one treatment we do to maintain body temperature when the person is having a high fever. We place cold wet towel on the forehead to cool down and protect the brain from being cooked due to the rise of temperature.
Hypocrates also have mentioned that creating artificial fever would help in healing any kinds of illness. Thus the practice of Suob/Luop/Palina aka Steam Bath are advised to artificially raise up the temperature within the body to fight pathogens and free radicals that comes in to our system that cause illness.
Keeping our body warm and hydration is the best practice we provide in treating illnesses. In the practice of suob, we also prepare glass of drinking water so that from time to time we let the patient drink water as s/he will perspire a lot during the treatment. Giving a drink will hydrate the patient and replenish the loss of water in his system.
In keeping our body warm when we are sick, our parents cover us with blanket at wear us socks in our feet. There is a traditional practice also in making out feet warm is by clipping a clove of garlic or slice of ginger to the in between of our toes. And to some they also place a round slice of onion to the soles of their feet while wearing socks at bed time.
Hilot Masahe is also provided in giving warmth to the body as well as in aligning nerves or bone structure into position. Sometimes disalignment is also cause of pain and imflamation.
In handling fractured leg, both medical and traditional healers know that moving the affected part of the body will only make the fracture worst. So the treatment for fracture is to limit the movement in order not to cause more harm and damage to the person.
It is believed that our bones has the capacity to heal it self specially when the person who had accident is young. So when it happen, traditional medicine practitioner apply pounded herbs to alleviate pain and wrap it with a stick so that it will prevent from movement.
It the same thing that is happening to the world right now. The whole world is experiencing a Pandemic Illness that needs to limit the movement of the people. Traditionally, we know that complete bed rest with proper nutrients will help us to recover. This is the same thing that we must do. We limit our social movement so that we can manage to strengthen our immunity to fight the virus that is spreading around the world.
Our life here on Earth is monitored by our healthcare provider through the progress of our Physical, Emotional and Mental Health. From there we are advised to eat healthy food and physical activities that will satisfy our mind as well as emotions. In Hilot, aside from valuing the Physical, Emotional and Mental Health- we also give importance to our Spiritual Health.
As Manghihilot, we believe that life comes from the Spirit. And the illness of man is caused either by Physical factor or by spiritual factor. So if there are Physical Medicine that been administered to the Physical Illness of Man, Prayer is our Spiritual Medicine that we administer to Spiritual Illness.
Apu Adman performs Pagpag Pauli Ritual as part of Kilubansa Healing.
Prayer is a form of Spiritual exercise that can affect your emotional and mental Health. Through prayer we express our thoughts by describing through words what we feel. Prayers also help us create a positive outlook in life through voicing out positive affirmation and our goal desires that assure us to have a better future. Prayer help us to be at the present by making us aware of voicing out the content of our hearts, and by hearing it our mind remember and take action through our body.
Prayer is not just a religious or spiritual activity, but it can be used and employed into a Holistic Healthcare delivery system.
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