this kind of treatment had always been my choice for fevers as i am not too keen on swallowing pills if i can help it. my understanding is that it works only for fevers brought on by the cold, sudden changes in temperature, tiredness. it cannot treat fevers caused by real infections; unless the root cause of the fever is treated, one can experience only temporary relief because the fever is bound to return.
sadly, there aren't too many "hilots" of this kind and more often than not, they are not accessible from where i am most of the time. i haven't tried the kind that includes unintelligible prayers, though.
all i know is that these "hilots" know which part of the body the fever's "head" is located (usually in one's joints). once they get hold of the "head", they press ("kill") it until it disappears. it's painful, and i guess the pain itself is the relief because right after, the patient sweats and the fever's gone.
Thanks, Isles. I do try to keep a open mind when I would talk to the woman who would provide panuhot massages as to the efficacy of the massage and what it would do. Interesting lang kai in modern medicine, the notion of air going into the body is questionable since the skin (the integumentary system) is practically water proof and air proof (which is ensured by the overlapping nature of the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis).
When I asked my uncle Rene, who is an Internal Medicine Specialist, if he believed in the efficacy of panuhot massage, he said it was hard to believe in it when there is no scientific explanation. I sided with him on that aspect. We both agree that the massage has some kind of spiritual and therapeutic qualities.
As to the disappearance of my fever, I don't know, perhaps it was the cooling effect of the efficacent oil, lol. I don't know, i am open to any local explanation tho. Afterall, I am no expert in local / traditional filipino healing.
I would appreciate it if you could lecture to me on some of their underlying principles given your experience with it.
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