The Healing Touch That Is Hilot

What is the first thing that comes to mind whenever you feel pain all over your body? Right, body massage. But did you know that the Philippines has their very own version of massage that has spiritual leaning? It has been in existence long before Spain, led by Ferdinand Magellan, even discovered the country in the early 1500s.

Hilot (/hee-lot/) is a Tagalog word which means massaging through rubbing or a touching stroke that soothes. Touching is the fundamental way of treating through Hilot. However, it's not that simple as it may seem, because it is more than that. Hilot is basically an energy manipulation of the body to restore balance. It is regarded as an ancient healing art that is Filipino in all essence of the word. It is the Philippine's very own version of touch therapy. This method employs various type of alternative medicinal massages that invokes spiritual powers to heal. It can treat various illnesses from a simple fever to muscle strains and even dislocated bones. It is embedded in the Filipino culture so deep that even with all the advance medical technology nowadays it still is in practice, and people still turn to these practitioners known as the "Manghihilot" for cure.

Hilot has been in practiced in the Philippines for centuries way back in history which predates any written historical records of the country. Since there is no written history of this healing art's facts and dates, its origin is still unknown and to this very day remains a mysterious healing art. However, Masters where able to pass down their secrets to their apprentices (usually a family member) who in turn continued the legacy up to this very day.

Even though Hilot is indigenous in the Philippines, it has influences from alternative cultural medical practices in some parts of the world. Some of these influences are the Chinese traditional medicines, Ayurveda of India, and Greece and Persia's Yunani-Tibb.

Typically, like other natural health care system, the concept of Hilot is to restore and maintain the balance and harmony of a person's health and wellness. Which means that diseases, illnesses, and discomforts are believed to be caused by imbalance and disharmony in the body.

Manghihilot at Work:

Before anything else, a Manghihilot invokes or call upon the Divine powers to give him the strength and energy to heal.
After the ritual, the Manghihilot determines the source of the energy imbalance in a person's body through touching diagnosis.
Once determined, the Manghihilot then applies a customized treatment, which could be purely touching or with the aid of herbal medicines to remove any imbalances. Coconut oil is an essential part of the healing process. This oil does not only lubricate the Manghihilot's hands but also keeps it warm, which is very effective in energy manipulation.
After the session, the Manghihilot will warn the person against taking a bath for one day to ensure that the oils are absorbed by the skin. Taking a bath after a Hilot session is also believed to make a person more sicker than the first time.

Common Hilot Procedures:

Paghila or Pulling: Is one way of knowing if there is a presence of malady in the body. It is done by massaging the coconut oil throughout different parts of the body. The Paghila is then done by using a piece of banana leaf or any leaf with a smooth surface. It is then passed or pulled over the body, and when the material sticks to a particular area instead of being pulled smoothly, then it is assumed that the area is suffering from a malady.
Bintusa: Is a type of massage that aids in healing various types of muscular-ligament complaints, or commonly referred to as muscle strains and back pains. It is believed that these pains are caused by "masamang hangin" or "bad air" that enters the body. It is healed by placing a glass upside-down with a lighted small wick inside. As the light vanishes, a vacuum will take place, causing the skin within the glass to be drawn upward. It is then circularly slid around the affected area to draw out the "masamang hangin", the person will experience a soothing effect as the glass mimic's a massaging sensation.

For more on Hilot and other massage therapies, visit the EnvyMyHealth.com Massage Therapy Channel!

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