Hilot- The Art of Philippine Traditional Holistic Treatment

What is HOLISTIC?

Derived  from the Greek word holos for  “whole”, Holistic approach to health differs from the conventional medical approach. Instead of  just focusing on the symptom or the part that has a problem, it takes into account the patient as a whole, including all the aspects of life:physical,emotional,psychological and spiritual.

Most holistic therapists believe that the body has a vital force or life energy. It is this force that protects the body from disease and allows it to heal. We often refer to it as the "immune system". When the balance of the immune system is disturbed we the see the various symptoms of disease. Holistic therapies aim to help the patient restore the balance, thus allowing the body to heal itself naturally. Viewed this way, symptoms become valuable messengers. They let us know when we have lost our balance and that we will need to make some adjustments if we are to regain our health. If we ignore or just suppress the message then we can expect bigger problems later on.

What is HILOT?

This is the art of  antique healing through the use of bare hands and plant oil.  This antique method of the massage could heal various pains and illnesses in the human body.  The term “Hilot” is used until these days as the professional name of the woman who serves massage therapy exclusively for women.  The term “Albolaryo” is the professional name of the man who practices the healing through the use of medicinal plants and who also does massage treatments for men.  The Filipino people in the ancient times consider hilot as a miraculous art of healing.  Even now, some may still consider that it is a miraculous method of healing upon knowing the real depth of its capacity to heal. Its pain healing treatment serves as a defence or preventive measure to avoid the occurrence of more serious body ailments.  This therapeutic massage is of significant value from the childhood stage until the old age of a man.  Not to mention, it can serve even the infant who is still in the bosom of the mother.

Hilot is the oldest and most secret of the Filipino healing arts in the Philippines. It is very rare for masters of this practice to divulge their secret of healing.
This type of healing supposedly dates back to the first civilization of the Philippines (approximately 5th century).

Based on my research and experience,there has been no early documentation of this traditional treatment.  This ancient art of healing is either learned from Master practitioners who passed it on to their apprentices, or through exposure and hands-on practice as inherited from the elders of the family. At the age of  7, I became an apprentice to my mother's father,my lolo Pedro Fontanilla,an Ilocano Arbolaryo . He taught me the mysterious art of  hilot. As I grew up I  developed a passion towards this healing art. Before my lolo Pedro left the physical world, he left me one golden rule: that it is my obligation to pass on what he had taught me. This is why I have dedicated 12 years already (and still continuing) exposing myself to this field. I have gone to some parts of the Philippines meeting some Manghihilot or Arboloryo and expanded my understanding about HILOT.

Hilot is practiced to varying degrees or levels in the Philippines, but has now found its way to many parts of the world. Together with the support of Uganayang Pilipino, I am looking forward to fulfilling my part in spreading the healing art of Hilot here in Sweden.

How does Hilot work?

Before any treatment, initial consultation is conducted and background information must be obtained. The process of hilot follows: this involves the manipulation of the nerves and veins, joints, tendons, sinews and ligaments.

Through deep concentration and attention to specific details, the unique mobilization, manipulation and stimulation methods are what make hilot excel in the proper functioning of: the nervous system which regulates and coordinates bodily activities and responses; veins and arteries which support the flow of blood; tendons and ligaments that support the physical movement of muscles and bones

Hilot Types

There are many types of Hilot in the Philippines. The "Partera," "Komadrona," or "magpapaanak"- this is the Hilot known  to deliver babies. There are "Mangagamot" or "Babaylan" - this is the Hilot that helps  cure various ailments using numerous alternative remedies, such as massage, oil, vinegar and herbs. There are four type of Hilot Mangagamot in Filipino native healing arts.

·       Hilot Albularyo is a form of Hilot treatment using  variety of herbs, internal and external applications, and is known of the use of "Hagod" (massage).

·       Hilot Buga is a form of healing treatment using a variety of herbs, fruits, vegetables, oil, water, and vinegar. They use chewed herbs and apply externally to cure various symptoms and illnesses.

·       Hilot Bintusa is a form of healing treatments, using glass and fire pressure called "Bintusa." Similar to a Chinese cupping technique, the use of accupressure points to apply the cup is similar to the accupressure points they use in Chinese Acupuncture.

Hilot Babad is a form of healing treatment using water, massage treatments in water are useful to cure various muscle, tendon, ligament and joint injuries. This Hilot treatment originated from Mangyan tribes and Aetas tribes in Luzon island.

 Scientific ExplanationsThe effective healing of hilot could be explained scientifically.  The proper understanding of the basic arithmetic procedures is very necessary to do calculations for the problems in the advance physics and chemistry.  Similarly, the proper understanding of the true root causes of body pains is very fundamental for the finding of the appropriate solution.  The modern science had discovered that the human body is composed of the varied types of living cells.  Each cell is a contributing factor for the undergoing processes in the body.  If the cells of the human body are all in good health, then, we may say that the person is healthy.  For this reason, it is important to understand and apply the proper health maintenance for every body cell.  Each cell in the human body is similar to a young plant which needs sufficient water and the necessary supply of the solid and gaseous nutrients to survive.  The fundamental objective of the massage therapy is to help the blood and body liquid reach their destinations, the cells.  When the blood and body liquid fail to reach a muscular cell then that cell will suffer early maturity and wilt like a dying plant.  For the antique knowledge, good blood circulation requires the free movement of blood in all the muscular cells reaching the skin of the body. The liquids present in the parts of the different systems of the body are very sensitive to the internal and environmental temperature.  It is similar to the normal liquid water which could change the state of form into snow or solid ice as influenced by the temperature.  The body liquid occupies space.  Should the liquid solidifies in the muscular system due to the adverse temperature it shall prohibit the entrance of the blood in the muscular cells.  The solidification of body liquid in the muscular system is one of the major causal factors for body pain. The solidified liquid in the muscular system of the body melts through the internal heat produced by the normal body movements during the day or through physical fitness exercises.  Should the internal heat produced by the body movements fails the problem of the solidification of body liquid could be remedied by the massage treatments.  All of the methods of massage, in one way or another, help to melt the solidified body liquid and provide the space for the normal blood movement.  The antique and the modern techniques of therapeutic massage always provide the positive effects which are beneficial to the health of the human body.  The therapeutic massage is the micro-global approach for the general health of the body.  It might be surprising to know that the calcification in the bone may disappear through the treatment of the antique therapeutic massage.  This is very true for Hilot.  This antique therapeutic massage has the capacity to liquify calcification formed in the cartilages, tendons, muscles and in the bones. From the metaphysical to the physical level, an indigenous concept of a hot-cold syndrome plays an important role in how nature affects the humans

Michelle Fontanilla Quintela (Licensed Massage Therapist,DOH Philippines

12 years experience and research on Holistic Health Practice

Certified Hilot

Senior Therapist,The Oriental Spa, recognized as the Best Spa in the Philippines for three consecutive years by the Philippine Tatler

Board-member - Ugnayang Pilipino Sweden