Traditional Medicine as Alternative Health Care in Pasay

Abstract

Traditional medicine has been part of our culture; the term has undergone changes in terms of definition. Now, traditional medicine is perceived not exclusively as healing techniques that are indigenous or have local origin but also includes those healing method from foreign influences, such as Chinese and European healing techniques. In the Philippines, there are many traditional medicines/healings but the most common are herbal medicine, manufactured herbal drugs, faith healing, healing rendered by folk healer like manghihilot (traditional bone setter) at albulario (herbolario) and non-invasive medical techniques like acupuncture, homeopathy, reflexology and alike. This paper looks into the present status of traditional medicine as alternative health care of Filipinos. Traditional medicine has continued to exist in our society not merely because of cultural reason but generally because of the dismal reality Filipinos are into. In the Philippines most of the leading causes of illness and death are preventable and curable. Such reality only shows that the health delivery we now have is not sufficient to cater to the needs of people who are mostly poor. The dismal situation of the national health care system actually rooted on the religiously following of the IMF-WB imposed economic and health policies.