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

Holistic Anatomy & Physiology of the Soul

In Philippine Indigenous Traditional Healing, it is important for us not only to know the Anatomy and Physiology of the Physical Body of an Individual but also our Holistic Aspects that we can learn by understanding deeply our Dimensions of Reality and our plane of existence. Not all illnesses come from External Factor but also Internal on which we have to know which Soul affect the person that it becomes sick.

By having this knowledge in mind as Hilot Binabaylan, we can plan the right and appropriate treatment procedure to an Individual to affect cure.

Join our HILOT BINABAYLAN ALIGNMENT TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HILOT WELLNESS NC2 and become an Ordained #HilotBinabaylan Practitioner starting March 23, 2025 from 1:00 PM- 6:00 PM and the following Sundays up to June 22, 2025.

This will be a weekly learning sessions that we are going to share the practices of Hilot Binabaylan in providing care to your Community.

Enroll Now by filling up the form in this LInk https://forms.gle/SbWiNk1XFMmkwRXe9 as there are limited slot only for 10 persons.

Answering Questions of Medical Channel Asia

Health Care requires trust from the people that will receive it. That is why Hilot has been the most trusted Healthcare modality in the Philippines since before the Colonization Period. Modern Medicine is only a recent introduction to the Filipino People especially to those who are living in the rural areas and in a far-flung community where modern Health Care doesn’t reach. And besides, the introduction of modern medicine was only available for the rich people who can afford it. While Hilot can be easily availed by any one as it does not cost much. Traditionally, Hilot can be obtained from Family Members such as mother, aunties or even grandmother. The Principle of Loving Care is applied in Hilot Treatment that does not require monetary payment. Here are my answers to your questions:

What skills and training are necessary for someone to become a trusted manghihilot, and how do you ensure safety in your practice? The Skills of Manghihilot in treatment is based on Traditional Healing Principles.

DIAGNOSTIC. Manghihilot uses different diagnostic methods to determine if the illness is caused by Physical Mean or Spiritual Mean. That is why there is a Finger Alignment Method (pantay daliri) to determine if the illness is caused Spiritually or Physically. Then if the cause of illness is caused by the Spirit, the Manghihilot employs Tawas which can be likened into a Psycho- Emotional Assessment. Hilot Academy redefined Tawas from being Spiritual Diagnosis to Traditional Alternative Wellness Analytic System.And if the illness is caused Physically, the Diagnostic Method employed is called Pasubay which observed the patient using 5 senses to determine the disorder of the patient. And if the person has internal problems which are caused by the imbalance of the organ, the manghihilot employs himulso or pulse reading analysis.

CLEANSING. Whether the illness is caused spiritually or physically, we believe that the person becomes impure that it needs to be cleansed. The water is employed in cleansing whether internally or externally.

REPAIR. After cleansing, the manghihilot will address the problem by repairing it. There are different treatment techniques to be employed on different illnesses. Even if there are 2 persons suffering from similar illness, the treatment is uniquely different from each individual.

STRENGTHENING. After treatment, whether be it simple illness to chronic disease, the Body gets weak that is why the manghihilot will provide herbal tea to drink and prescribe food to eat to recover the patient’s strength; and lastly

MAINTENANCE: The manghihilot will provide to the patient some home care remedies, amulets and charms and even instructions of physical activity that the person may prevent from getting sick from the same ailments.

In terms of Training, the Authentic Manghihilot are not schooled. The Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Attitude of Manghihilot are being taught through observation and experience either through apprenticeship from a Hilot Master or out of compassion, just like a mother that her child gets sick will find a way to apply cure to her child. Though as Manghihilot, we do not claim that we can cure, but we believe that all individuals have the ability to heal themselves, and we as manghihilot are only the facilitator that helps the individual to achieve their own healing through the medicine we provide that is by employing the powers of the elements such as herbs, heat, light, water and time. As manghihilot, we are translators more than communicators. We listen to the voice of the Spirit and their body and relay to the individual what they do not understand and after that we seek help from nature to have medicine for the sick.

How do you ensure safety in your practice? This is a personal question on how I personally ensure the safeness of my practice. So, I will respond to this in accordance with our Code of Ethics. In the book i write which is titled as Hilot Gamutan: a Fundamental Guide in Hilot Treatment Methodology, i will quote on page 9, that states:

“As manghihilot, we do not treat patients that have conditions that are beyond our understanding. We refer them to proper healthcare professionals as necessary.
As manghihilot, we are trained to treat Traditional Filipino Ailments known as Pilay, and our works only revolved in treating this illness.
Our limitation as manghihilot is bound only to what we know, so in order to overcome this limitation we should be open for learning and face the modern challenges of life; as time evolves into modernity we will bring hilot all along so that future generations may still benefit from it.”

That is how I observe safety in my practice of Hilot.

2. How do you address criticism that Hilot may cause complications, especially in cases where professional medical intervention is needed?

Just like what it is stated in our Code of Ethics, we limit our practice in Treating Pilay which is our Traditional Illness. But with the advent of modern medicine and colonizing indigenous tribes, the illness of brought by colonizers such as the cry of one dumagat chieftain, when the government enters the forest, new illnesses have been found in their tribe that originally there are only 10 common illnesses that comes to them which they can solve. So, they are asking for help from the Government to send medical doctors in the forest, but unfortunately, there are only few Honorable doctors who will take that challenge to live among the indigenous people and adopt their culture.

3. What role do you see Hilot playing in a modern healthcare setting? Should it complement or stand apart from mainstream medicine?

Hilot plays a primary role in Health Care as we are the grass root of Modern Medicine. Common People who live in rural areas trusted Hilot more than the modern healthcare professionals. We can bridge that gap by educating the people to trust modern medical practitioners, unlike the modern doctors who discriminate against us in our practice. In the lessons about the Generations of Healers the Modern Doctors are 4th Generation healers as ordained by the Supreme Divine Creator who is the First genration healer, next was the Babaylan, third, during the coming of the colonizers the healing abilities of Babaylan are distributed to the Manghihilot and Mananambal, the fourth is the Modern Doctors, the Fifth is the Hilot Binabaylan which we belong and the 6th generation in prophecy are the Integrative Medical Doctors who combined the Modern Science and the Ancestral ways of Filipino Healing.

As Hilot Binabaylan, I am looking forward for this to happen as of this moment, there are no Modern Medical Doctor who practice Hilot in Health Care, even Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan who advocates hilot does not practice it instead do acupuncture nor Dr. Isidro Sia former Director General of Pitahc also practice Acupuncture and Dr. Anabelle Pabiona De Guzman, another Pitahc Director General who established the Naturopathic School in Far Eastern University Manila. Dr. Mina Gabor who is former Department of Tourism Secretary has established Hilot School at International School of Sustainable Tourism can not be considered as Integrative Doctor as she is not a medical doctor by profession nor a manghihilot.

4. What steps do you think should be taken to modernise Hilot while preserving its cultural significance

First is, we have Republic Act 8423 that establishes Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Health Care or PITAHC. This law has the objective to promote and advocate the use of traditional, alternative, preventive and curative healthcare modalities that have been proven safe, effective, cost effective and consistent with Government standards of medical practice. But as we can see, PITAHC only put aside the promotion of Hilot and relied much on the Department of Tourism. Hilot is not a Hospitality Service but we must be included in Health Care Services. Hilot is not for Entertainment. You ask every living lola and lolo right now on how they remember Hilot, they will tell you that when they get sick, their mother will send them to a manghihilot.As Manghihilot, we do not rely on Pharmaceutical but instead we create our own medicine by harvesting it to our Garden. This is the reason why we do not charge money, because the medicines we formulate are from our own backyard. Manghihilot Cultivates the land where it produces our medicine. By that you can see we are not just a body worker, but we are also an Earth Steward. But as I go back to the steps in modernizing Hilot and preserve its cultural significance, Hilot should be put out in the Spa Industry but instead be employed in Public Health Care Facilities. Trained Hilot in Schools can work as Field Researcher in documenting Herbs, trees, flowers that grow in their Barangay. And from what they gather, they will send it to a more advanced Facility in Pitahc to conduct more intensive research to find the medicinal value of the plants. Then, upon finding its medicinal value, they can cultivate and propagate. Harvest then manufactures finished products such as tea, tablets, syrups, liniments, oils, etc. that can be distributed to the barangay constituents.

Pitahc should be included in DOH Offices that have Regional, Provincial, Municioal/ City and Baranggay Health Center. Since we are the grass root of health care, Modern Medicine and Traditional Medicine can work together hand-in-hand in caring for the health of the people.

I pray that I answered all of your Questions.

(Please do visit Medical Channel Asia for more Modern Health Care Contents and how it could help to integrate the Traditional Medicine into the modern health care practices in Asia.)

Happy Hilot Month!

Happy Philippine Traditional Alternative HealthCare Month. Yesterday November 2, we have successfully conducted our First Free Webinar as we discuss the Fundamental of Hilot Practice and share the Definition, History, Principles and Philosophy of Hilot.

The Webinar yesterday was attended by 17 participants coming from different parts of the world, and they are the following:

1. Gat Anata Laylay

2.Rossielienne

3.Kimberly Arteche

4. Body Bliss

5. Annaliza Borcena

6. Lizel Cameron

7. Jerson Casol Jr.

8. Bubble Fajardo

9. LJ Fajardo

10. Vince Joseph Garcia

11. Sebya Gorre-Clancy

12. Jovy Labalan

13. Wilna Mirabel

14. Jocelyn Nguyen

15. Yolanda Pedrigal

16. Tatjna Simpson

17. Allan Valenzuela

Siesta inclusion in our class curriculum

Siesta is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after mid-day lunch meal. This tradition is mostly an influence from our Spanish Colonizers which the word is derived from Sixta Hora or the 6th Hour of the day. As early Filipino woke up most likely before the sunrise and lunch time which is the 6th hours from the rising of the sun. When growing up as Pinoy Kid, we have been told a story about Juan Tamad or Lazy Juan which our Spanish Colonizers depiction to a common Filipino. And aside from Nap Time, there are many make up stories, that our mother’s told us as a kid why we should take a nap after meal. Common mothers would encourage their children to take a nap after lunch meal so that children will not go out of their home to play on the Street. Nap time for Children allows mothers to continue doing their household chores also to give time for themselves to relax and care for themselves.

Out of this practice, a make story about an engkanto that is known as Taong Araw which is a very bright white complexion that sucks of life force from the persons they meet on the street during noon time, especially children. Other benefit of Siesta that is not scary is that it helps a Child to grow faster. But having Siesta in our Class is not that we teach laziness to our students, but instead we intend to immerse our students/participants to Filipino Culture and instill the value of rest as part of healing process.

According to studies, Siesta has been associated to the 37% reduction of Coronary mortality posibly due to reduced cardiovascular stress mediated by daytime sleep. And aside from its health benefits, we want to provide our students “Me Time” on which they can prepare themselves for the afternoon class and be able to digest not only food they eat but also the morning lessons we provide unto them.

So, when you attend to our stay in class, expect there will a nap time in our Classroom as we prepare banig and unan for everyone.

History of Hilot

1300 BC is part of the Iron Age in prehistory. Though we all know that the first recorded History of the Philippines was dated April 21 year 900 AD on the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. But when I searched the World Wide Web, I found in Wikipedia the name Amaron which is said to be a Legendary Supreme Ruler of the Philippines who ruled during 1300 BC.

Of Course, If Amaron is a leader in 1300 BC that means he has constituents to lead on. And these constituents are composed of people who reside in the area where Amaron was supreme. And these people have a life to live. And living their life, they have a system in taking care of their health to maintain life force in their physical body.

So, Hilot does not start during the influence of the Sri Vijayan Empire, it even dates back far beyond the Birth of Jesus Christ.

And there is also another ruler named Gat Pangil, on which is believed where Pangil, Laguna has derived.

Responding to an Inquiry through Google My Business

We made Hilot Academy of Binabaylan listed on Google Business that it help us be found by People such as the one that have made an Inquiry this day and the Question was in Tagalog.

“Magandang Hapon po… Training Center po ba ito for Massage Course? “
Good Afternoon! Is this a training center for Massage Course? -John

I choose not to reveal the face of the person who ask the Question but just like this person, many people still think of Hilot as Philippine Massage and the reason for this is what people can search through Search Engine as the information they have shared about Hilot is Massage. Such as we ask Google about what is Hilot? and this is what we can see:

It is very tough challenge for us in Hilot Academy of Binabaylan to change the thoughts and mindset of people about Hilot and only few of us really understand what Hilot Means. So, in response to the Question that been asked to us.

Hi John! We teach Hilot and not Massage. There is a big difference between Hilot and Massage. in massage they help relieve body illnesses, while in Hilot we do not only provide relief on the Physical Illnesses but also in mental, emotional and soul illness as what we specialize that is why our school is called Hilot Academy of Binabaylan.
response of Apu Adman Aghama

The reason why he ask us because he want to set up a Spa as his business. Though I refer him to look for TESDA school that offers Massage Training so as inform him about the Policy of Philippine Department of Health towards the Practice of Massage in the Philippines. I also encourage him to set up a Hilot Center instead of a Spa. Just like in the practice of Hilot and Massage, there is a big difference between the two modalities of healing. But, in fact, massage is just one modality that is performed in Hilot. And for a wider view, Hilot is about caring and its practitioners are move to heal with compassion and not through compensation.

In order to provide a Hilot Treatment, a person must undergo a thorough Hilot Diagnostic Procedures. It means people who will have Hilot Treatment will not just come to have a Hilot and be relaxed just like in Spa, the Therapist will just provide what their customer want according to their menu. But in Hilot, we the provider will determine what is the right treatment the patient will receive upon determination of the Hilot Diagnostic Results.

This is why at Hilot Academy of Binabaylan, we are upgrading our curriculum so that we can move forward in professionalizing our Practice as Philippine Traditional Indigenous Medicine Practitioner. We are envisioning our Manghihilot in the future, just like the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner are called as a Doctor, so as the Ayurveda, Naturopath, Homeopath, Chiropractor and many others are called as Doctor, we too as Manghihilot will achieve the Recognition as Doctor of Philippine Traditional Indigenous Medicine.

But why Philippine Traditional Indigenous Medicine and not just Philippine Traditional Medicine?

We need to be precise on what we want to call our selves because as of this moment 2024 the Philippine Government has an Agency known as Philippine Institute of Traditional Alternative Medicine or most popularly known as PITAHC. And we could understand it that the Agency under Philippine Department of Health should promote Philippine Traditional Medicine (as we know before as Hilot), but what they are promoting instead of Hilot are other foreign Traditional Medicine that is present in the Philippines such as Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Homeopathy and Naturopathy. You can see it clearly in their social media account on which Traditional Medicine Practices they are promoting. Such as what they have posted in their facebook page on December 11, 2023:

CALABARZON or Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon Provinces Center for Health Development conducted Advance Acupuncture Training on selected Local Government Unit and Rural Health Unit personnel. And there is another one in Davao.

What we see in their actions is that they promote what they know well and work well with the one that could serve them well. But what is really happening now, Philippine Traditional Medicine which is Hilot has been set aside but instead focuses on foreign Traditional Medicine which they can market and give them earn a lot. So, we deemed Hilot to be our Philippine Traditional Indigenous Medicine which according to their Intro as:

Soul Healing Hilot

Another family came to receive authentic Hilot treatment though they only complain simple back pain but it ended up in opening of consciousness through the topics we have discussed during the treatment session.

Though having a small place to receive people, we still manage to welcome them and treat them individually.

Hilot usually does not require aesthetic space but utilize the area where the Spirits have provide us to do our sacred work of healing.

But I wish to have a formal aesthetic venue where the person who receives Hilot will not just be relieved from physical pain but also may be relieved from emotional and mental stress that they are receiving everyday in society where they live.

I also feel sorry for this family that they needed to travel far in order to receive authentic Hilot that will not only touch their Physical body but as well as in healing their souls . If only our Government could integrate Hilot into the Philippine Health Care Delivery System, people does not need anymore to go to far flung places in order to receive Authentic Hilot Treatment nor spend a lot of Money in Spa which commercialized Hilot but instead people will just drop by to their Local Health Centers which they can receive Hilot for Free that is part of our Healthcare delivery system.

Embrace the Land

In learning #Hilot we must not be just like plantito or plantita that enjoys to see their plant on a pot. Allow them to embrace the land and let them grow to be strong.

Being a #HilotBinabaylan is not just about connecting yourselves to the root but also allowing yourself grow by having a deeper connection to your motherland.

Remedial Hilot Curriculum Development

Working on our Curriculum about Remedial Hilot as i work on it i am reminded to be grounded on the Healing Principles that all individual has the ability to heal our selves so the treatment procedure we provide as manghihilot does not intend to heal but to help the individual to heal themselves.

In order for us to assist them in their healing, we should also better understand the Filipino Concept of Illness which is Pilay.

On April 27 i have to present 10 common filipino illnesses but i have identified 13 and have to divide into four category of filipino illness which is pilay ipit, pilay bali, pilay hangin and pilay lamig.