Philippine Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Health

Hanunuo - conditions & illnesses

Local name of ailment Description Cause/s Material/s and method/s for recognition Management  Additional information Informant/s Address
Aritis Itchy skin, has circles on the skin with water, inflammatory, the whole body can have aritis. Can come from animals, grass, and mud. Exceeds 1 month duration, the wound do not heal at once. Madre cacao leaves are pounded and rubbed to the skin, boil the bark and use for bath. Pound the coconut meat and put some oil then rub to the affected area several times a day until it heals. Anyone can have aritis, especially during summer. Andrea (Anding) Bago, Atan Magsipoc 32 y/o  Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Dispula Foot to leg part are inflamed, red skin, not itchy, painful on the inflamed part. Unknown. Sudden illness. Beyond 1-2 months duration,if not treated the foot might be inflamed. Tie a red thread on the reddish part of the foot to prevent it from spreading upward. Saga is used for treatment, pound the leaves of saga with the roots of dilaw and rub to the affected area several times a day until it subsides. Anyone can have dispula, often to children ages 2-5. More cases of dispula during summer. Andrea (Anding) Bago, Atan Magsipoc 32 y/o  Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Baysok  Lesion somewhere on the anal area, like scabies or boil but has deeper wound. No pus outside, bleeding and is watery. Small wound on the outside but big inside. Unknown. Sudden illness. Baysok will not heal when treated by medicine not appropriate for baysok. Roast and pound the bukag (Pulang mais) then put directly to the wound. Anyone can have dispula. If not treated it can lead to death. Andrea (Anding) Bago, Atan Magsipoc 32 y/o  Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Bakukang (Bangkukang) Large, oval, painful growths on the skin, often grows on the foot. Patient can’t walk because of the pain. The lesion can be watery, with visible center. Unknown. Sudden illness. Can last for more than half a year if not treated. Bangkal (Young leaves). Pound and apply to the affected area as a poultice (tapal). Change frequently- 3 or more times a day. Anyone can have bakukang over the year. It will be hard for the person with bakukang to walk. Andrea (Anding) Bago, Atan Magsipoc 32 y/o  Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Biring Hurt on the side (L or R). Seems like there is a twisted vein that hurts. Can be obtain by carrying heavy loads and walking. Hilot Hilot   Andrea (Anding) Bago, Atan Magsipoc 32 y/o  Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Binat, Bughat (mangyan) Experienced after giving birth or after recovering from flu, Patient feels dizzy, lightheaded, and weak. Affected women may see bright spots, have cloudy vision or suffer a nervous breakdown. Caused by working too soon after recovering from an illness or after giving birth Inspection Alom (bark).Boil then drink the decoction or make a necklace out of the bark. Daka and litlit (sap, leaves) boil and drink the decoction several times a day.   Andrea (Anding) Bago, Atan Magsipoc 32 y/o  Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Anarip  The belly grows bigger, painful, the whole body is swollen. Unknown. Sudden illness.   Bugbog (leaves)  Pound and put salt and use as a poultice preparation. Repeat the procedure until the patient gets well..   Andrea (Anding) Bago, Atan Magsipoc 32 y/o  Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Balis Head ache that’s not relieved by conventional medications like taking paracetamol. Transferred from another person who has balis. Does not heal by using medicines. Chew litlit with 7 slices of ginger. The person who caused the balis should rub it on the head of the person with balis. If you are the one who caused balis the spit would be red otherwise it will be pale. Andrea (Anding) Bago, Atan Magsipoc 32 y/o  Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro
Usog (usogan) Stomach pain. From a person. The stomach ache takes a long time to resolve . The one who caused usog should count for the one with usog. "Kas-a, kad-dwa, kat-lo, kap-at, ka-lima, kan-um, pinto uli uli sa kangko ang usog". If you have suffered usog when you were a child you can probably cause usog in others. Andrea (Anding) Bago, Atan Magsipoc 32 y/o  Sitio Dangkalan, Barangay San Roque, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro