Folk healing practices and folkloric modalities of traditional healers in Northwestern Cagayan, Philippines

Paper Details

Research Paper 17/06/2023
Views (338) Download (90)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Folk healing practices and folkloric modalities of traditional healers in Northwestern Cagayan, Philippines

Allan O. De La Cruz, Rodel Francisco T. Alegado, Rey D. Viloria
J. Bio. Env. Sci.22( 6), 234-239, June 2023.
Certificate: JBES 2023 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

Despite the modernization in health care, advancement in technology, and the internet of things, there are still individuals who resort to traditional healers or ‘mangngagas’ in local dialect. Hence, this study was conducted to describe the dynamics of traditional healing in Northwestern Cagayan, Philippines. The study used descriptive survey design and data were collected through survey questionnaire and interview to 79 folk healers in the communities surveyed and were analyzed through descriptive statistics. The study found that it was through self-discovery and experience from parents that they became folk healers. Of the 10 types of folk healing practices that these folk healers treat 10 distinct folk illnesses, it was fond out that most are physiotherapist using mostly coconut oil, glass/plate and leaves as paraphernalia and through a variety of cultural, spiritual, and ritual procedures. These folk healers were patronized since they are near in the locality, the practice is common in the place, and the people believed that traditional medicines cure folk diseases. The study suggests that the study area has rich intangible resources on healthcare management that necessitates positive reception, documentation, preservation and inclusion.

VIEWS 71

Abad P. 2014. Cultural beliefs on disease causation in the Philippines: challenge and implications in genetic counseling. Journal of Community Genetics 5(4), 399-407. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-014-1

Abe R, Ohtani K. 2013. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants and traditional therapies on Batan Island, the Philippines. Journal of Ethno pharmacology, 145, 554-565. http://doi.org/10.1016/

Almario V. 2015. Sagisag Kultura, Vol 1. Manila: National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved from https://philippineculturaleducation.

Bibon M. 2021. Acquisition of Fok Healing Practices: A Phenomenological Study Grounding the Experiences of Parasantigwar in Cagraray Island, Philippines. Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies Vol 1, Issue 8, August 2021.

Cavalli-Sforza L, Feldman M. 1981. Cultural transmission and evolution: A quantitative approach. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Cerio C. 2020. Multidimensional poverty assessment of using dashboard approach: The case of the upland farming households in Goa, Camarines Sur, Philippines. Countryside Development Research Journal 6(01), 1-8.

Haque I. 2018. Traditional Healing Practices in rural Bangladesh: A Qualitative Investigation. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Mahmood A, Mahmood A, Tabassum A. 2011. Ethnomedicinal Survey of Plants from District Sialkot, Pakistan. Journal of Applied Pharmacy 3, 212-220

Mesoudi A. 2013. The cultural evolution of technology and science. In P. J.

Payyappallimana U. 2010. Role of traditional medicine in primary health care: An overview of perspectives and challenges. Yokohama Journal of Social Sciences 14(6), 57-77.

Pocs E. 2005. Possession Phenomena, Possession Systems. Some east Central European Examples in Communication with the Spirits, Demons, Withches Ed. Vol. 1. Budapest, New York: CEU Press.

Rebuya N, Lasarte E, Amador M. 2020. Medical Pluralism, Traditional Healing Practices and the Partido albularyo: Challenge in Inclusion. Open Journal of Social Sciences.

Rendell L. 2011. Cognitive Culture. Theoretical and Empirical Insights into social learning strategies. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 15.

Richerson MH. Christiansen (Eds.), Cultural evolution: Society, technology, language and religion (pp. 193-216). Cambridge: MIT Press.

Telles S, Pathak S, Singh N, Balkrishna A. 2014. Research on traditional medicine: What has been done, the difficulties, and possible solutions. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/495635

Villariba M. 2006. Babaylan Women Guide to a Life of Justice and Peace. Isis International.

Wood L, Kendal R, Flynn E. 2012. Context-dependent model-based biases in cultural transmission: Children’s Imitation is affected by model age over model knowledge state. Evolution and Human Behavior 33(4).

World Health Organization (WHO). 2002. World Health Organization Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-2005.

World Health Organization (WHO). 2013. World Health Organization Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023. Retrieved from https://apps. whoint/bitstream/10665/92455/1/978924150609f

World Health Organization (WHO). 2020. Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine. Retrieved from https://www.who.int /traditional-complementary-integrative-medicine