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TRADITIONAL HEALING PRACTICES IN ZAMBOANGA CITY, PHILIPPINES
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ISSN (Online): 2455-3662
EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) - Peer Reviewed Journal
Volume: 6 | Issue: 5 | May 2020 || Journal DOI: 10.36713/epra2013 || SJIF Impact Factor: 7.032 ||ISI Value: 1.188
TRADITIONAL HEALING PRACTICES IN ZAMBOANGA

CITY, PHILIPPINES
Romenick Alejandro Molina Princess Elaine L. Esperat

Senior High School, Senior High School,
Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College
Apolonio A. Gracia Jr.

Senior High School,
Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College
ABSTRACT
In Zamboanga City, both affluent and poor individuals seek consultation from traditional healers. Thus, this study
documented the different traditional healing practices in the city. The researchers utilized a qualitative research design using
open ended interview. Purposive sampling was utilized in the selection of key informants who are traditional healers. Photos
and voucher specimen was taken for documentation. There were three practices identified: subada (hilot), herbalism and
sahuma (mangtatawas). In subada, the healer do massage on the affected body area using of coconut oil or commercial
ointment. In herbalism, a total of 16 medicinal plants were recorded. Leaves are the common part of the plants being used
and the common method is decoction. In sahuma, the healer uses tawas, kemenyan, candle and blessed palm. The image that
will form will be interpreted by the healer.
KEYWORDS: Traditional Healing, Methods, Subada, Herbalism, Sahuma
INTRODUCTION the Philippine society and culture. The traditional

Traditional healing is an important and healers during those periods are the babaylan or
integral in the health system of all countries of the shamans [5].
world [1]. World Health Organization reported that 80% With the introduction of hospitals,
of the ailing population in developing countries relies improvement of technology, production of healthcare
on traditional healing as their first aid to treat the illness professionals and western medicines, traditional
[2]. Traditional healing pertains to the heath practices, healing practices begin to fade. Nonetheless, since the
approaches, knowledge and beliefs associated in healthcare system of the Philippines is underdeveloped,
healing and wellness using ceremonies; plant, animal or many Filipinos especially those of low socioeconomic
mineral – based medicines; therapies or physical consult their medical problems to traditional healers.
techniques [3]. Traditional healers use different healing
The different traditional healing practices can practices. For instance in Cebu, Berdon et al. [6]
be traced back in 14,000 centuries B.C., until Chinese, documented the following traditional healing practices:
Graeco-Arabic and western countries start using use of “himolso” (pulse-checking), “palakaw”
traditional medicines. Thus, healing practices is (petition), “pasubay” (determining what causes the
considered to be the oldest form structure healing, sickness and its possible means of healing), “pangalap”
which is practiced with basic set of beliefs [4]. In the (searching) of medicinal plants for “palina”
Philippines, traditional healing was first documented in (fumigation), “tayhop” (gentle-blowing), “tutho”
16th century during the Spanish colonization. Thus, it (saliva-blowing),“tuob” (boiling), “orasyon” (mystical
can be said that traditional healing practices is part of prayers), “hilot” (massage), and “barang” (sorcery). To
2020 EPRA IJMR | www.eprajournals.com | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013

81
perform these practices, traditional healers use their 1. Subada (Hilot); 2. Herbalism; and 3. Sahuma
knowledge which they acquire from their ancestors [7]. (Mangtatawas).
Having traditional knowledge is significant in the daily
life of every individual around the world [8]. Thus, Subada (Hilot)
documenting the traditional knowledge from key In this method, the traditional healer will
informants especially on healing is essential. determine the areas of skeletal misalignment (baldao)
Zamboanga City which is located in the or energy imbalances (pasmo) in the body through
southernmost tip of Zamboanga Peninsula in the wrist pulse. Then, the traditional healer will massage
Philippines has a diverse community and rich in culture. the affected body part using coconut oil or commercial
It is a first class and highly urbanized city, since it is ointment. After which, the patient is advised not to
the commercial and industrial centre of the region. It is drink cold water nor to take a bath for one day. In
considered as the third largest city with a total land area addition, the patient will be asked to make hampul.
of 142,099.99 hectares or 1,420.99 square kilometres Hampul is the wrapping of cloth in the affected body
and the sixth – most populous city with a total part with leaves of tangan – tangan (tuba - tuba) for
population of 862 thousand people as reported by overnight. After recovery, the patient is advised to take
Philippine Statistics Authority [11]. an aromatic bath with sampalok leaves decoction. This
In this city, it was observed that both affluent kind of practices were also documented in Ilocos
and poor Zamboangueño will seek an advice from community [10], however there some practices that
traditional healers. In some informal interviews, some differs. For instance, the use of crashed ginger instead
patients opted to visit traditional healers because they of tangan – tangan leaves in making hampul and the
recovered from their medical problems after the use of bamboo leaves decoction instead of sampalok
consultation. Thus, this study aims to document the leaves for aromatic bath after recovery.
different traditional healing practices performed by
traditional healers in Zamboanga City. Herbalism
In this method, the traditional healers are
METHODS advising their patients to use medicinal plants. The
Research Design administration of medicinal plants could be in external
To obtain the necessary data for this study, the or internal. In this study, the methods were grouped
researchers utilized qualitative research design. into five:
Purposive sampling were employed for the selection of I. boiling of plant samples (leaves, roots or stem)
key informants. Key informants were traditional then drink the decoction.
healers from selected barangays in Zamboanga City. A II. boiling of plant samples (leaves, roots or stem)
total of three (3) key informants decided to participate then used for bathing.
in the study. III. wrapping of plants with cloth directly to the
affected areas
Collection of Data IV. pounding or crushing of plants.
The primary instrument in this study is the use V. chewing
of open ended interview where questions are translated Table 1 shows the different medicinal plants
in local dialect. More so, photos were taken on used by the traditional healers, its scientific and local
different plants for documentation. Identification of name, the illness to be treated and what method is
these plants were facilitated using the voucher applied.
specimen collected such as leaves, stem or fruits.
RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS

There are different methods used in the
Philippine traditional healing. In this study, the key
informants revealed three different methods. These are

82
Table 1. Medicinal Plants Used by the Traditional Healers

Medicinal Plants Name Parts of the Illness to be Procedure
Plant Used Treated
Scientific Name: Leaves Fever I

Moringa oleifera
Common Name:
Malunggay
Wounds IV
Scientific Name: Leaves Arthritis, I

Peperomia Kidney
pellucida Problem, Fever
Common Name:
Sinaw-sinaw/
Pansit pansitan Leaves and Wounds IV
Stem
Scientific Name: Leaves Muscle Pain, III

Jatropha curcas Flatulence
Common Name:
Tangan - Tangan/
Tuba - Tuba
Scientific Name: Leaves Cough, Fever I

Vitex negundo L.
Common Name:
Lagundi
Scientific Name: Leaves Swell III

Coeus blumei
benth.
Common Name:
Mayana
Scientific Name: Leaves High Sugar V

Costus igneus
Common Name:
Insulin Plant

83
Scientific Name: Cloves Toothache, IV

Allium sativum Wounds
Common Name:
Bawang
Scientific Name: Leaves Arthritis, I

Anona muricata Inflammation of
Linn. respiratory tract
Common Name:
Guyabano
Body pain or III
Swelling
Scientific Name: Leaves Fever, II

Tamarindus indica Puerperium
Linn.
Common Name:
Sampalok
Scientific Name: Bark Intestinal I

Syzygium cumini inflammation
Common Name:
Lomboy

84
Scientific Name: Young Cough I

Mangifera indica Leaves
Linn.
Common Name:
Mangga
Scientific Name: Fruits Cough I

Averrhoa bilimbi
Common Name:
Kamias
Scientific Name: Leaves Baldness, IV

Aloe barbadensis Dandruff
Common Name:
Aloe vera
Scientific Name: Leaves with Stomachache I

Andrographis Stem
paniculata
Common Name:
Serpentina
Scientific Name: Flower Buds Boils IV

Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Linn.
Common Name:
Gumamela
Scientific Name: Leaves Swelling III
Sandoricum
koetjape (Burm.f.)
Merr.
Common Name:
Santol

85
There were a total of 16 plants identified in the study, uses tawas, kemenyan, candle and blessed palm. The
of which 3 were part of the 10 medicinal plants image that will form will be interpreted by the healer.
endorsed by DOH [11]. These plants are bawang, Limitation of the Study
lagundi and pansit pansitan. More so, from the The researchers acknowledge the following
reviewed published studies the use of duhat bark, limitations of this study: 1.) limited number of key
gumamela flower buds, kamias fruit, sampalok leaves informants and 2.) must include the demographic
and serpentine leaves to treat a particular illness is not profile of the key informants. Nonetheless, phase II
recorded. might be carried if time will warrant.
The most common part of the plants being
used for treatment is the leaves. This findings coincide REFERENCES
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TRADITIONAL HEALING PRACTICES IN ZAMBOANGA CITY, PHILIPPINES

Article · May 2020

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

TRADITIONAL HEALING PRACTICES IN ZAMBOANGA

Romenick Alejandro Molina Princess Elaine L. Esperat

Apolonio A. Gracia Jr.

INTRODUCTION the Philippine society and culture. The traditional

2020 EPRA IJMR | www.eprajournals.com | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013

RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS

2020 EPRA IJMR | www.eprajournals.com | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013

Table 1. Medicinal Plants Used by the Traditional Healers

Scientific Name: Leaves Fever I

Scientific Name: Leaves Arthritis, I

Scientific Name: Leaves Muscle Pain, III

Scientific Name: Leaves Cough, Fever I

Scientific Name: Leaves Swell III

Scientific Name: Leaves High Sugar V

2020 EPRA IJMR | www.eprajournals.com | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013

Scientific Name: Cloves Toothache, IV

Scientific Name: Leaves Arthritis, I

Scientific Name: Leaves Fever, II

Scientific Name: Bark Intestinal I

2020 EPRA IJMR | www.eprajournals.com | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013

Scientific Name: Young Cough I

Scientific Name: Fruits Cough I

Scientific Name: Leaves Baldness, IV

Scientific Name: Leaves with Stomachache I

Scientific Name: Flower Buds Boils IV

2020 EPRA IJMR | www.eprajournals.com | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013

2020 EPRA IJMR | www.eprajournals.com | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013

Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and

2020 EPRA IJMR | www.eprajournals.com | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013

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