Several of my clients are Filipina. They manage to locate me while looking for something akin to Hilot. Hilot is a type of traditional healing in the Philippines that involves abdominal massage, although its practice can differ among healers. For instance, one hilot practitioner I encountered specialized in treating pregnant women, while another did not possess that expertise. Some Hilots may incorporate herbs, while others concentrate more on physical manipulation or energy healing. Their expertise can differ. In Mexico, traditional healers who utilize bodywork as their healing method are referred to as Sobadores. They too exhibit varying skill sets.
For more than 15 years, my Filipino clients have been describing to me the practice of womb massage in their country. As they shared about traditional womb care in their homeland, I began to observe parallels between Hilot and Mexican sobadas de matriz (traditional Mexican abdominal/womb massage). They also noted that my massage closely resembled what they had experienced during their initial childbirth in the Philippines.
After making a promise to myself to experience Hilot firsthand, I finally fulfilled it by booking a flight to the Philippines fifteen years later. Through a connection with a friend of a friend, I embarked on a journey to a small rural town in Samar Island. It took two flights, 20 hours in the air, a three-hour taxi ride, and two days of travel, but I eventually arrived at my destination!
The town near the sea was a quaint rural tropical settlement. Streets were adorned with vibrant green plants, while chickens roamed around pecking at the ground. Children, with buckets of freshly caught fish atop their heads, paused to giggle and gaze at me. Raised wooden huts stood above the marsh, serving as both residences and small shops. An old stone church in Spanish style completed the scene, evoking memories of many small Mexican towns I had experienced in the past.
Although the locals were kind and respectful, their double-takes and stares indicated their unfamiliarity with foreigners. This highlighted the privilege of being in such a place, as not many people have the opportunity to experience it. Throughout my time there, I was the sole foreigner in the town, which made me conscious of the importance of being culturally sensitive and respectful. As a result, I refrained from asking to take many pictures. However, I did develop a close relationship with the second Hilot and took some photos of her and the vsteam, which I plan to share in a separate post.
It’s the small towns far off the beaten trials where you can feel the soul of a country.
There is no catering to tourist's comfort or perception.
The most peaceful times in my life were when I lived in the small towns of Mexico. Roca Partida in Veracruz, Chalmita, La Cuidad de Oaxaca, Loma Bonita in Jalisco, and in Mayan territory, Palenque Chiapas and the outskirts of Playa del Carmen.
My Great Aunt, an energy healer, introduced me to traditional healing, massage, herbs, and energy work when I was 10 years old. Natural traditional healing and womb massage are what I am truly passionate about. Upon graduating from high school, I obtained certification as a massage therapist at the age of 19. I furthered my knowledge by apprenticing with traditional healers in Mexico, engaging in plant ceremonies, before returning to San Diego in 2010 to establish Rebirth. In both Mexico and the Philippines, this wisdom is transmitted through lineage via apprenticeship.
My first encounter with a Hilot was with Purting, an elderly lady in her mid-70s. She was concluding a session with a postpartum patient when Danica and I reached her residence, a lovely wooden house on stilts above marshy grounds. Danica, a mutual acquaintance, was accompanying me to provide guidance and act as an interpreter, as Purting communicated solely in Wary.
Purting's client was holding a small baby and just had her second postnatal visit. Just like sobada de matriz, hilot is crucial for postpartum healing.
This makes sense to me since a postpartum body is injured by the birthing process. Also, because postpartum bodies still have so much relaxin hormone in their system. Relaxin hormone makes the ligaments in your body softer and more pliable, allowing your uterus and body to stretch during pregnancy. This is why injuries can easily occur postpartum.
Prior to the relaxin hormone dissipating, it is crucial to promote the repositioning of organs that have shifted during pregnancy, particularly the uterus. The uterus is supported by a network of ligaments resembling a hammock. It is also essential to undergo bodywork to restore your pre-pregnancy posture, as your entire center of gravity was altered during pregnancy.
Postpartum is a critical period for significant healing. For instance, pre-existing injuries that have persisted for a long time can be addressed during the postpartum phase, taking advantage of the period when ligaments are still flexible BEFORE the relaxin hormone dissipates and causes the ligaments to become rigid.
In both cultures, it is believed that improper care during postpartum can lead to lifelong injuries, aches, pains, and permanent damage (again, makes sense due to the physiology mentioned above). It is also believed that cold may have entered the body during birth, so introducing heat through pelvic steam, and circulation via massage is essential. COLD is the culprit of many ailments in both cultures. I could write an entire blog on this topic alone! To keep it short, cold can enter the body via birth, certain foods, walking barefoot on cold ground, the low back, and not being dressed properly to name a few. Cold can cause harm to the body via slowing down circulation to the womb. Since the uterus has slighter warmer temperature than the rest of the body cold can really throw off the body's natural balance.
In Mexican tradition, we observe the Cuarenta, a period of 40 days of rest following childbirth. During this time, it is important for the woman to remain on bed rest, eat warm foods, avoid specific foods, use a belly binder (faja), and steer clear of cold temperatures. Womb massage and steam baths are also crucial practices. Interestingly, the Filipino culture shares similar customs! I learned that the energetic properties of food are taken into account as well.
Having encountered numerous traditional healers and also received education in a formal school environment, I've noticed that the timing for womb massage and vaginal steaming differs slightly among them.
The second hilot I encountered emphasized the importance of performing the womb massage and steam treatment at least twice after childbirth, once the bleeding has ceased. Specifically, pelvic/vaginal steaming should be carried out on the 6th and 10th day following delivery.
Just a quick note - I have a passion for both science and traditional medicine. I remember when someone once mentioned that traditional medicine lacks validation due to the absence of supporting studies. With a background in anatomy and physiology, I enjoy examining things from the perspectives of both traditional energy and culture, and then using my education to comprehend them from a scientific standpoint too.
Observing the numerous healing advantages of my Hilot session and womb massage, I recognize the myofacial work being performed, the repositioning of organs, the promotion of healing circulation, the softening of scar tissue, the improvement in digestion, the relaxation of my tense diaphragm enabling deeper breathing, the more efficient menstrual cycle, and the use of herbs to address inflammation. Given that studies have validated the benefits of massage, what rationale could lead someone to question the efficacy of this traditional abdominal massage?
Mayan abdominal massage and various other Mexican indigenous healing practices originate from the indigenous people of Mexico, many of whom belonged to advanced civilizations. These civilizations excelled in astronomy, archaeology, and mathematics, achieving significant scientific advancements. Shockingly, over 5,000 Mayan books, technical manuals, codices, and research dating back thousands of years were destroyed in a single day during the Spanish inquisition by a lone bishop named Diego de Landa.
I am convinced that this work was documented because of the uniformity I have observed in numerous Mexican traditional healers from whom I have either learned or witnessed their practices. However, it had to be passed down via oral tradition in order to endure the effects of colonization.
To be continued!
Up next....... Yoni steam in the Philippines, politics of traditional abdominal massage, how this info is passed down, interview with the hilots I met, which techniques were similar to womb massage and more......
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