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Complementary and alternative medicines among residents in upland cavite,

Philippines: their knowledge, patterns of use and attitudes

Article · April 2016

DOI: 10.18006/2016.4(2).133.141

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Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, April - 2016; Volume – 4(2)

Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences

http://www.jebas.org

ISSN No. 2320 – 8694

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES AMONG RESIDENTS IN

UPLAND CAVITE, PHILIPPINES: THEIR KNOWLEDGE, PATTERNS OF USE AND
ATTITUDES

Johnny A Ching1,2,*, Rodante G Flores2,3 and Maxima J Acelajado2

1
Biological Sciences Department, College of Science and Computer Studies, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines
2
Graduate Studies Department, College of Science and Computer Studies, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines
3
PATTS College of Aeronautics, Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines

Received – February 03, 2016; Revision – February 17, 2016; Accepted – March 30, 2016
Available Online – April 25, 2016

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18006/2016.4(2).133.141

KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Complementary and
alternative medicine The study was aimed to determining the knowledge, patterns of use, and attitude towards the use of
complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) by herbalists (n=38) and lay people (n=582) from the
Herbal medicines municipalities of Indang, Maragondon, Amadeo, Magallanes, and Alfonso and the city of Tagaytay, all
located in the upland portion of the province of Cavite. Data pertinent to the afore-said aims were
Upland Cavite gathered through questionnaires and focus group discussions. Nine forms of CAM were documented as
used by the interviewees. Leaf extract (decoction) and traditional massage (hilot)was the most prevalent
types of CAM across all studied areas, contributing 71% (n= 440) and 54% (n= 335), respectively.
Furthermore, their widespread utilization was mainly due to the recommendations from family members
(31%, n=192) and doctors (35%, n= 217). Amongst the various ailments associated with the use of
CAM, common colds (70%, n= 434), cough (69%, n=428), and fever (61%, n= 378) were the most
treated. Overall, a generally positive attitude towards the use of all forms of CAM recorded in this study
was shown by most participants in all the surveyed municipalities/city. Therefore, present study
concludes that CAM plays a major health care role amongst the interviewees.

All the article published by Journal of Experimental

* Corresponding author
Biology and Agricultural Sciences is licensed under a
E-mail: jaching@dlsud.edu.ph (Johnny A Ching) Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0
International License Based on a work at www.jebas.org.
Peer review under responsibility of Journal of Experimental Biology and
Agricultural Sciences.

Production and Hosting by Horizon Publisher India [HPI]

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134 Ching et al

1 Introduction 2 Materials and Methods

The practice of complementary and alternative medicines 2.1 Study area and data collection
(CAM) is very common in many countries of the world,
including where modern biomedical healthcare is predominant The study was carried out in Indang, Maragondon, Amadeo,
and readily available (Shaikh et al., 2008). CAM is a group of Magallanes, Alfonso and Tagaytay city located in the upland
diverse medical and healthcare systems, therapies, and portion of the province of Cavite. A total of 620 respondents
products that are not presently considered to be part of modern (38 herbalists and 582 lay people/users of CAM), average of
medicine. A therapy is generally considered to be as 100 participants from each municipality and city, were
complementary when it is used in combination with purposely selected.
conventional treatments while it is considered as alternative
when it is used in place of the modern treatment (Koh et al., Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaires and focus
2004). Recognizing that there can be some overlapping group discussions (Erasto et al., 2005). The protocol was
amongst the therapies, the National Center for Complementary approved by the Research Ethics Committee under the
and Integrative Health (NCCIH) (2012)formerly the National University Research Office (URO) of De La Salle University–
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Dasmariñas, and informed consent was obtained from all the
(NCCAM) of the US Department of Health and Human respondents, who were willing to take part in the study, prior to
Services categorized CAM practices into two subgroups: the data collection. Self-administered questionnaires and group
natural products or mind and body practices. Natural products discussion as adapted from previous studies (Furnham, 2000;
include use of a variety of biologically-based products such as Xue et al., 2007; Shaikh et al., 2008) but with a sight
herbs or botanicals, vitamins and minerals, and probiotics. modification was aligned to gather information relating to the
These products are widely-marketed, readily available as respondents’ knowledge, patterns of use, and attitude towards
dietary supplements. Mind and body practices includes a large the use of CAM.
and diverse group of practices or procedures usually
administered by a trained practitioner such as massage therapy, The questionnaires were distributed to each of the respondents.
acupuncture, yoga, qi gong, and meditation. Those who needed assistance in terms of understanding and
filling-up the questionnaire were assisted by their family
Literature-based evidences exist indicating that the practice of relatives. The completed questionnaires were retrieved by the
CAM is common in most developing countries including India researchers three weeks after the distribution, and
(Singh et al., 2004; Jadhav et al., 2011; Roy et al., 2015), subsequently, a face-to-face interview and focus group
Malaysia (Lee et al., 2007; Sivadasan et al., 2014; Silvanathan discussion with respondents was conducted to gather other
& Low 2015), Africa (Matheka & Demaio 2013; McFarlane, relevant information that might not have captured by
2015), and Mexico (Valenzuela-Antelo et al., 2011; Marshik et respondents.
al., 2016). This is therefore suggests that CAM is an important
aspect of public health care in these countries. Studies also 2.2 Data analysis
highlighted that there is an increasing prevalence of CAM use
among Western physicians practicing in developed countries Comparison technique and descriptive statistics such as
(Bensoussan et al., 2004; Koh et al., 2004; Wolf et al., 2006; percentage/frequencies was used to analyze certain data
Stange et al., 2008). The apparent reversal of trend from collected across all the studied municipalities/city.
modern to traditional medicine is partly attributed to the Furthermore, Likert scale was used to evaluate the attitude of
multifaceted factors including the fact that synthetic drugs the respondents towards CAM, with 5 representing very strong
have always shown adverse reactions and other undesirable and 1 representing very weak responses.
side effects (Erasto& Majinda, 2011).
Results and Discussion
In addition, the high cost of administering modern drugs,
which is beyond the reach of many people in the low income A total of 620 respondents with ages ranging from 16 to 68
group and of those living in the rural areas is also responsible years old from the selected city and municipalities in upland
for this trend (Erasto et al., 2005). Regardless of the earlier Cavite disclosed that they utilize CAM, thus suggesting that
eluded studies reporting on the significant of CAM in various this sort of therapy is common amongst all age brackets in the
countries, there are still dearth of information relating to the study areas. There was almost an equal ratio between male
utilization of this therapy, particularly the knowledge, patterns (48%; n = 300) and female (52%, n= 320) respondents and
of use, and attitude towards its use by residents in the upland most of them attained only up to secondary education. This
portions of the province of Cavite, Philippines. The present finding therefore, buttresses the common knowledge that most
study was therefore initiated as an attempt to contribute of the users of CAM obtained lower educational qualifications.
towards this gap in knowledge.

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Complementary and alternative medicines among residents in upland cavite, Philippines: their knowledge, patterns of use and attitudes. 135

Table 1 Different form of complementary and alternative medicines used by residents (in percent) of selected city and municipalities
representing upland Cavite.

Forms of CAM Municipalities/City

Maragondon

Tagaytay
Amadeo

Mendez
Alfonso

Indang
n = 116 n = 98 n = 100 n = 100 n = 94 n = 112
Leaf extract/decoction 64 78 78 81 68 56
Traditional massage 47 68 68 45 48 46
Herbal tablets 33 8 55 24 7 11
Rituals - 43 - 29 6 1
Plastering of leaves 3 4 - 22 2 1
Western massage (spa) - - - 11 - -
Prayers and murmuring - - - 13 - -
Yoga and meditation - - - 5 - -
Qigong - - - 6 - -

3.1 Forms of CAM used by the Respondents noted are plant derives. On the other hand high preferences of
herbal medicine in a form of tablet by interviewees from
Table 1 shows the various forms of CAM being used by the Indang compared to those residing in other studied areas, is
respondents from the upland areas of the province of Cavite. suggestive of the respondents’ preference for readily available
Drinking of decoction or leaf extracts of medicinal plants and medicines in pack rather than for raw herbal medicines, which
traditional massage are the two most popular forms of CAM in requires preparation. Figure 1 shows an over-all graphic
all sampling areas. Other forms of CAM being used to some comparison of the most common forms of CAM used by the
extent include drinking herbal tablets, performing different residents of upland Cavite. It is clear from the graph that
rituals and plastering of leaves. drinking of leaf extract or decoction and traditional massage
represent more than 70% of the combined responses in almost
Respondents from Maragondon showed more varied forms of all surveyed areas. This finding is somewhat in line that
CAM compared to other places in the upland area, such as previously reported by Salibay et al. (2007) and Arsenio et al.
going to modern spa and practicing yoga and meditation. This (2011) in the Philippines. Furthermore, Shaikh et al. (2008)
might be due attributed to the diversity of medical knowledge who also conducted a similar study in Pakistan reported
possessed by inhabitants from Maragondon as opposed to other comparable finding to present study. On contrary a study
municipalities. The opposite of this might be true amongst the carried out in Australia reported acupuncture as predominant
participants from Indang who reported the least forms of CAM (Bensoussan et al., 2004). This disparity might be
CAM. On one hand the least noted types of CAM amid attributed to the variation in knowledge or preferred form of
participants to some extent indicate that they rely on medicinal CAM amongst the Australians and Filipinos.
plants. This is ascribed to the fact that most sorts of CAM they

Figure 1 Over-all forms of CAM used by the residents of upland Cavite.

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136 Ching et al

Table 2 Reasons given by the residents (in percent) for using CAM of selected city and municipalities representing upland Cavite.

Reasons for using CAM Municipalities/City

Maragondon

Tagaytay
Amadeo

Mendez
Alfonso

Indang
n = 116 n = 98 n = 100 n = 100 n = 94 n = 112
Recommended by medical practitioner 21 59 44 - 23 42
Recommended by friends or family 45 20 61 41 1 13
To treat health problems 28 27 21 22 33 16
Natural and therefore safer 1 8 - 38 5 1
For maintenance of general health 3 3 2 5 8 1
Dissatisfaction with conventional medicine - 3 - 6 - -
To relieve stress - 4 - 8 - -

However, the least utilization of other forms of CAM in this Indang, and Maragondon were persuaded by family members
study was expected. For instance, limited use of Western for using different forms of CAM. Given that most of the
massage might be due to its high cost which is way beyond the respondent are old people, this finding suggest the practice of
reach of many participants in this study. Yoga and meditation CAM amid participants in this municipalities is an old tradition
might be least utilised due to the fact that its time consuming. passed from one generation to another. On contrary, people
Surprisingly, prayer and murmuring was expected to be questioned in the Tagaytay City and municipality of Amadeo
featured amongst the top used CAM, as most of the Filipinos use CAM as ordered by doctors, thus suggesting that most of
are religious. inhabitants in this areas reliant on western health care services
for their well-being. The results obtained from Mendez showed
3.2 Reasons for using CAM that participants use CAM from probable positive past
experiences. Overall the various reasons as outlined in Table 2,
Based from the interview and survey conducted, there were put forth by participants for utilizing CAM is obviously
eight primary reasons why the residents in the upland areas of associated with either tradition or trust that they have in the
Cavite tend to practice CAM. Table 2 below shows the various person who recommended them. The over-all reasons for using
reasons given by the respondents. Six major reasons were CAM by the residents of upland Cavite are graphically
identified by the respondents why they prefer to use CAM presented in figure 2.
(Table 2). Respondents from the municipalities of Alfonso,

Figure 2 Over-all reasons for using CAM by the residents of upland Cavite.

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Complementary and alternative medicines among residents in upland cavite, Philippines: their knowledge, patterns of use and attitudes. 137

Table 3 Ailments associated with the usage of CAM as given by the residents (in percent) of selected city and municipalities representing
upland Cavite.

Disease associated for using Municipalities/City

traditional medicine

Maragondon

Tagaytay
Amadeo

Mendez
Alfonso

Indang
n = 116 n = 98 n = 100 n = 100 n = 94 n = 112
Common colds 64 78 77 91 60 49
Cough 64 73 77 89 61 50
Fever 64 71 77 59 50 42
Flu 10 41 8 26 2 5
High blood pressure 4 9 13 2 2 4
Muscle pains 3 12 7 4 9 4
Diabetes 2 9 2 - 9 4
Abdominal pains - 3 3 12 - 1
Asthma 2 - 4 - 3 -
Skin diseases 1 1 2 1 2 1
UTI 1 5 - - 1 -
Diarrhea 1 - 1 - - -

One of the reasons given by respondents in this study for 3.3 Ailments Associated with usage of CAM
practicing CAM, particularly leaf extract/decoction, traditional
massage and herbal tablets is due to both the abundant and The top three ailments identified by the respondents associated
availability of plants resource, a similar finding which is with CAM were common colds, cough, and fever. This finding
common among Filipino families. This fact is to some extent are in harmony with those previously noted by Arsenio et al.
supported by more than 40 medicinal plant species (Appendix (2011) in Philippines, and Shaikh et al. (2008) in Pakistan,
1) reported by participants the across all the studied areas. both reporting colds, cough and fever are being amongst the
Other pressing reasons for the use of herbal medicine, reported top ailments treated with CAM. On contrary, Strange et al.
in this study which are comparable to previous studies (2008) reported hypertension and cancer as highly treated
(Furnham, 2000; Kuo et al., 2004; Salibay et al., 2009) include disorders in Germany. This might be an indication that these
their high potency and safeness as compared to synthetic diseases are prevalent in Germany.
medicines.

Figure 3 Over-all ailments associated with the use of CAM by the residents of upland Cavite.

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138 Ching et al

Table 5 Attitude towards CAM by the residents (in percent) of selected city and municipalities representing upland Cavite.

Attitude Towards CAM Municipalities/City

Upland Cavite
Maragondon

Tagaytay
Amadeo

Mendez
Alfonso

Indang
Very Strong 18 6 0 12 10 0 8.2
Strong 39 58 44 52 28 25 33.4
Fair 33 13 56 34 56 87 57.6
Weak 0 3 0 2 0 0 1.0
Very Weak 0 3 0 0 0 0 0.5
Over-all Scale 3.94 3.74 3.56 3.74 3.51 3.22 3.62
Interpretation Strong Strong Strong Strong Strong Fair Strong

Sicknesses which were less treated with the different forms of conviction of the efficacy of different forms of these therapies
CAM in present study comprised of complicated diseases such for preventive and treatment of some common ailments.
as diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disorders. Use of CAM
as therapies for these complicated ailments might be attributed Conclusions
to the patients’ hope for total cure, this might be especially true
since some of such illnesses notably diabetes and hypertension, Leaf extract/decoction and traditional massage (hilot) emerged
are chronic in their nature (Table 3). In general different as the most common forms of complementary and alternative
ailments treated by respondents with CAM in the present medicines used by the respondents. These therapies were both
might be an indication of their extent of prevalent in the ranked first and second, respectively, in all municipalities/city
studied area. representing upland Cavite. The present study further found
that the questioned participants were mainly persuaded by their
It is quite interesting to note that all respondents were family members and doctors to utilise CAM.
unanimous in their choice of top three diseases in which CAM
is used. These are the three most common illnesses which The principal afflictions treated with CAM in upland Cavite
normally are non-life threatening, whereas those illnesses encompassed common colds, cough, and fever. Overall,
which can be considered more serious such as heart problem remedies used for treatment of these ailments were mainly
and anemia seemed to have not been treated with CAM as prepared from herbal medicines. The four municipalities
shown in figure 3. representing upland Cavite rated the use of CAM as strong
while Tagaytay City rated it with fair. In general, survey
3.4Attitude towards CAM revealed a positive attitude towards CAM among residents of
the study sites with an over-all rating of 3.62 interpreted as
Participants residing in the municipalities of Alfonso, Amadeo, strong.
Maragondon, and Mendez in upland Cavite responded
positively on the use of CAM, having a mean range of 3.51 to Conflict of interest
3.94 and with a descriptive interpretation of strong. This is to
some extent is a reflection that the practice of CAM amongst Authors would hereby like to declare that there is no conflict of
the people inhabiting these areas is rooted in their culture, thus interests that could possibly arise.
future studies similar to ours, should target such areas for rich
data collection. However, the opposite of these can be said Acknowledgments
with regards to participants from the city of Tagaytay who
rated the use of CAM as fair, with a mean rating of 3.22. The researchers would like to thank De La Salle University–
Table 6 below summarizes the attitude of the respondents Dasmariñas through the University Research Office, for the
towards the use of CAM. funding of this research. Furthermore we are indebted to the
residents of Tagaytay City and municipalities of Indang,
Table 5 shows that, generally respondents from upland Cavite Maragondon, Amadeo, Magallanes, and Alfonso for their
strongly agreed on the use of CAM, with a mean rating of 3.62. willingness and cooperationduring data collection.
This suggests that attitudes of the public regarding CAM
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Complementary and alternative medicines among residents in upland cavite, Philippines: their knowledge, patterns of use and attitudes. 139

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Appendix 1. Herbal plants used by residents of upland Cavite to treat common ailments.

Botanical Family Scientific name Common name Part/s used Method of

Preparation

Fever
Annonaceae Annona muricata L. Guyabano Leaves Decoction
Asteracee Artemisia vulgaris L. Maria Leaves Decoction
Fabacecae Tamarindus indica L. Sampalok Fruits Eaten
Leaves/stems Bath
Lythraceae Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. Banaba Leaves Poultice
Orchidaceae Grammatophyllum scriptum L. Blume. Tawa-tawa Leaves Decoction
Oxalidaceae Averrhoa carambola L. Balimbing Leaves Decoction
Verbenaceae Vitex negundo L. Lagundi Leaves Decoction
Common colds
Asteraceae Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. Sambong Leaves Decoction
Moringaceae Moringa oleifera Lam. Malunggay Leaves Extraction
Orchidaceae Grammatophyllum scriptum L. Blume. Tawa-tawa Leaves Decoction
Phyllantaceae Phyllantrus niruri L. Sampa-sampalukan Leaves Decoction
Cough and flu
Asteraceae Artemisia vulgaris L. Maria Leaves Decoction
Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. Sambong Leaves Decoction
Annonaceae Annona muricata L. Guyabano Leaves Decoction
Bignoniaceae Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex Taheebo Leaves Decoction
Griseb.
Crassulaceae Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken. Kataka-taka Leaves Decoction
Fabaceae Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Kakawati/ malabe Leaves/fruits Decoction
Steud.
Euphorbiaceae Croton tigilium L. Gasi. (Sul.) Tuba Leaves Decoction
Lamiaceae Origanum vulgare L. Oregano Leaves Decoction
Lythraceae Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. Banaba Leaves Decoction
Mackinlayaceae Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Takip-suso Leaves Decoction
Orchidaceae Grammatophyllum scriptum L. Blume. Tawa-tawa Leaves Decoction
Piperaceae Piper betle L. Ikmo Leaves Poultice
Rutaceae Citrus microcarpa Bunge. Kalamansi/ Leaves Decoction
Kalumunding Fruit Eaten
Klaba Leaves Extraction
Verbenaceae Vitexnegundo L. Lagundi Leaves Decoction

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 Complementary and alternative medicines among residents in upland cavite, Philippines: their knowledge, patterns of use and attitudes. 141

Wound
Myrtaceae Psidium guajava L. Bayabas Leaves Washing as
antiseptic
Solanaceae Polanisia iconsandra (L.) Wight and Sili-silihan Leaves Poultice
Arn.
Fabaceae Cassia alata L. Akapulko Leaves Extraction
Mimosa pudica L. Makahiya Leaves Poultice
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Asteraceae Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. Sambong Leaves Decoction
Annonaceae Annona muricata L. Guyabano Leaves Decoction
Fabaceae Cassia alata L. Akapulko Leaves Decoction
Lythraceae Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. Banaba Leaves Decoction
Stems Decoction
Poaceae Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. Kogon Roots Decoction
Zea mays L. Corn/mais Silk Decoction
Lamiaceae Orthosiph onaristatus (Blume) Miq. Balbaspusa Leaves Decoction
Piperaceae Pepperomia pellucida L. Pansit-pansitan Leaves Eaten as raw

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