Hand-massage, from the Philippines by Frederick FN Noronha
The ancient indigenous practice of hilot [Filipino massage] recognizes the natural benefits of touch therapy. This “miracle method” relies mainly on the healing hands on the body as a remedy for elemental imbalances. A manghihilot [healer] is traditionally revered as someone with an elevated sense of touch. By feeling the patient’s palm, the healer can gauge the body’s health in terms of the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire. The healer then feels the patient’s back to check temperature changes, lumps, and muscle tension before initiating the proper treatment. Whether a patient suffers from mental (e.g., stress, anxiety) or physical (e.g., fever, bone dislocation) sickness, the manghihilot eases the body by kneading muscles and tissues, and applying pressure with specific hand techniques. This session may last for a few minutes or can be extended to last for several follow-up appointments.
When needed, healers incorporate special oils, lotions, herbs, and banana leaves to supplement the treatment. The minimalism of hilot stems from the idea that “health is the natural state of the body” and that illness is an imbalance of energies and spiritual strength. These imbalances can surely be treated by over the counter medication, but hilot insists that these ailments can be fixed through the work of experienced hands. This Filipino massage therapy values the natural remedy generated by a healer’s kamayan. The natural remedy is a healing alternative that doesn’t demand excessive devices or prescriptions. The manghihilot’s kamayan offers a real, physical treatment that doesn’t call for fancy technology and major concerns on sanitation. Hilot is done without gloves, utensils, and assists. Hilot celebrates the natural abilities of the body to heal itself and is more specific to a patient’s needs. The healer is aware of what parts of the body need treatment and what particular treatment works best for the patient’s situation. Prior to modern medicine, the manghihilot served as the main health care specialist in the Filipino community. These healers were the go-to people when it came to minor injuries and illnesses. Though the tradition is evolving with the times, the unconventional procedures (pulse reading, temperature analysis, excrement analysis, phrenology, etc.) offer accessible care in Filipino communities. Visiting local healers eliminates the generally tedious process of consulting medical doctors. Part of the convenience relies on the personal connection between the manghihilot and patient. Because most healers are local and related to their patients in that regard, patients can easily trust their manghihilot without worrying about medical bills adding up. The focus is on natural healing that can be performed by manghihilots who are also neighbors, friends of a friend, or even relatives.
As the manghihilot mentions in the video, the sensation of touch can lend the patient confidence and reassurance that their ailment can be alleviated naturally. There is comfort in feeling the weight of the bare hands on the body and the warmth of the living touch. Elders and mysticism are strongly involved in the practice of hilot as certain techniques are generational and regarded as a sixth sense connected to the health of the body. However, hilot can be administered casually. A mother can massage her children’s joints, for example, as a way of checking their physical health as they grow. In a way, the experienced hands of healers—whether they’re elderly, parents, or peers—reminds the patient that he or she is protected and literally, in good hands.
