In the Philippines, medicine men or healers are usually called arbularyo, albularyo, or hilot (/ar-boo-lar-yoh/, /al-boo-lar-yoh/, /hee-lot/). They may prescribe herbs, perform treatments or massages, certain protective prayers for curses, or even employ magic. Highly sophisticated arbularyos would correspond to Filipino shamans or witch doctors. Medicine man is an English term used to describe Native American religious figures; such individuals are analogous to shamans. ... Hilot is an ancient Filipino art of healing. ... The shaman is an intellectual and spiritual figure who is regarded as possessing power and influence on other peoples in the tribe and performs several functions, primarily that of a healer ( medicine man). The shaman provides medical care, and serves other community needs during crisis times, via supernatural means (means... A witch doctor often refers to healers that believe that maladies are caused by magic and are therefore best cured by it, as opposed to science or developed medicine. ...

Overview

The word arbularyo comes from herbolario, the Spanish word for herbalist. They are experts in folk medicine. Many, for example, know how to reset dislocated shoulders, sprained ankles etc. Thousands of plants and herbs in the Philippines are undocumented and need to be researched for their medicinal properties. Many arbularios have learned and handed down medical applications of these herbs. Dioscorides’ Materia Medica, c. ... A traditional healer in Côte dIvoire Folk medicine refers collectively to procedures traditionally used for treatment of illness and injury, aid to childbirth, and maintenance of wellness. ...

Medical doctors are very expensive for indigenous folk like farmers and fishermen. Arbularyos are a very cheap alternative and many times the only option for many indigenous folk. They are typically found in barrios or small barangays with people lined up outside. Arbularyos do not necessarily ascribe to or believe in magic, but they are the poor man's alternative for medical relief in deeper rural areas. Diagnosis and treatments are made not only on the physical level but on an emotional or spiritual level as well. Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district. ... A barangay also known as barrio (Filipino: baranggay , pronounced as ba-rang-gai, gai as in guy) is the smallest local government unit in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village,barrio, district, ward or town. ...

See also

• Hilot, the Filipino chiropractor
• Kulam, or Filipino witchcraft
• Folk medicine