Traditional and Alternative Health Month - It’s Traditional and Alternative Health Month. Join the celebration of developing new treatments and repurposing drugs in the Philippines.

Traditional and Alternative Health Month 2024 – November 2024

Traditional and Alternative Health Month is observed in November every year in the Philippines. This month recognizes the importance of traditional and alternative medicine to Filipinos in providing essential health care. This is valuable to people who do not have access to hospice care and immediate nursing aid, specifically to locals in rural regions. This was declared in Republic Act No. 8423 or the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997. This defines traditional and alternative health as a culmination of knowledge, skills, and health care practice not confined to biomedicine.

History of Traditional and Alternative Health Month

Before traditional and alternative health care became a legitimate industry in the Philippine health sector, its cultural origins root back in folk medicine and western medicine systems. The demand for these practices was due to the low-income families’ financial constraints who couldn’t afford hospice care. Some religions also prefer faith-based healing over scientific-based methods, which even garnered folk medicine a wider following.Folk medicine in the Philippines was particularly popular during the Spanish regime from 1568 to 1898 when people used plants and herbs as medicines. This was when there were no authentic establishments that practiced medicine to treat people, so locals became innovative and resilient and resorted to alternative treatments.Throughout the 20th century, faith healers that include ‘manghihilot,’ ‘mangtatawas,’ and ‘albularyo’ became prevalent throughout the decades. These practices have been deeply ingrained in the culture of Filipinos in terms of access and effectiveness.By 1997, the Republic Act No. 8423, also known as the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 1997, was formally declared to highlight and celebrate traditional medicine culture among Filipinos. This includes the legitimization of herbal medicinal products such as soaps, food supplements, vitamins, and nutrition-enriched food as valuable commodities in modern Filipino medicine.As of today, at least ten medicinal plants are endorsed by the Department of Health of the Philippines as effective antidotes to cure illnesses or improve health. These include ‘akapulko,’ ‘ampalaya,’ ‘bawang,’ ‘bayabas,’ ‘lagundi,’ ‘niyog-niyogan,’ ‘sambong,’ ‘tsaang gubat,’ ‘ulasimang bato,’ and ‘yerba buena.’

Traditional and Alternative Health Month timeline

1568
Folk Medicine in the Spanish Regime

The Spaniards introduce plant-based medicinal practices to Filipinos.

20th Century
The Rise of Faith Healers

Throughout the decades of the 20th century, religion-based healing becomes deeply ingrained in Filipino culture.

1997
The Official R.A. for Traditional Medicine

The Republic Act No. 8423 is formally declared to legitimize traditional and alternative healthcare.

2020
Traditional Medicine Against COVID-19

A webinar event with the theme ‘The relevance of Traditional and Complementary Medicine on the COVID-19 Pandemic’ is hosted by the Philippine D.O.H.

Traditional and Alternative Health Month FAQs

What is a ‘manghihilot?’

A ‘manghihilot’ is a Filipino profession that uses massage therapy to cure illnesses and promote spiritual healing.

What is the Philippine Traditional Medicine Program?

The Traditional Medicine Program is a Philippine-based healthcare program that was founded in 1992 by the D.O.H. to promote the efficient and safe use of alternative medicine.

How does an ‘albularyo’ cure illnesses?

An ‘albularyo’ is a Filipino faith healer that uses shamanism, incantation, and herbal medicine to cure illnesses and improve one’s health.

How to Observe Traditional and Alternative Health Month

  1. Share articles about traditional medicine

    The purpose of Traditional and Alternative Health Month is to raise awareness of the importance of traditional medicine to Filipinos. Share scholarly articles about medicinal plants and herbs that could help other people’s illnesses.

  2. Educate yourself

    Fraud is prevalent in traditional medicine. It is always important to educate yourself and learn to be vigilant in determining the legitimacy of herbal products.

  3. Buy your friends an herbal soap

    Giving herbal soaps as a gift is a good gesture for birthdays, house warmings, or anniversaries. Purchase online and surprise them with package delivery. Don’t forget to include a note!

5 Interesting Facts About Traditional Medicine

  1. The rise of health supplements

    The demand for health supplements in the Philippines grew by 40.35% in 2011.

  2. Traditional Filipino medicine in the international market

    At the moment, multinational companies are investing to expand internationally to sell herbal medicines and plant-based products.

  3. The ‘healthy lifestyle’ trend

    The trend toward a healthy lifestyle contributed to the rise of traditional medicines and alternative healthcare products over the last 20 years.

  4. The wonders of bitter gourd

    Bitter gourd is a Filipino vegetable that’s known to help prevent diabetes, coughs, burns, and scalds.

  5. The popularity of sambong

    Sambong is a plant-based medicine widely used by doctors and healthcare professionals to treat kidney stones.

Why Traditional and Alternative Health Month is Important

  1. They’re affordable products

    We want to give everyone access to healthcare and medicine as much as possible. Traditional and Alternative Health Month offers families of all classes the knowledge and accessibility to herbal medicines.

  2. It epitomizes the Filipino culture

    Known as a resilient race, traditional medicine, and alternative healthcare is a form of every Filipino’s innovation and resourcefulness. This month is a celebration of that inspiring characteristic.

  3. It eradicates the stigma of alternative medicine

    The stigma behind alternative medicine still exists even today. This month helps raise awareness of the legitimacy and effectiveness of herbal medicines. Professional doctors promote them.

Traditional and Alternative Health Month dates

Year Date Day
2022 November 1 Tuesday
2023 November 1 Wednesday
2024 November 1 Friday
2025 November 1 Saturday
2026 November 1 Sunday
All Saints' Day
​National Calzone Day
National Vinegar Day
National Men Make Dinner Day
National Brush Day
Karnataka Rajyotsava Day
National Cook For Your Pets Day
National Jersey Friday
National Deep Fried Clams Day
National Cinnamon Day
Extra Mile Day
National Family Literacy Day
Fountain Pen Day
Love Your Lawyer Day
National Author's Day
Prime Meridian Day
World Vegan Day
Haryana Day
International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
Lakshmi Puja
Puducherry Liberation Day
Antigua Independence Day
Kut
Kannada Rajyothsava
D. Hamilton Jackson Day
Anniversary of the Revolution
Coronation Day of His Majesty the King
Pâté Day
Laxmi Puja
Scented Candle Day
National Biologic Coordinators Day
National Jayden Day
National Mia Day
Calan Gaeaf
All Saints Day (Spain)
GeorgeNotFound's Birthday
Lil Peep's Birthday
Jayden Bartels's Birthday
Natalia Tena's Birthday
Penn Badgley's Birthday
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Birthday
Paige Hyland's Birthday
Anthony Ramos's Birthday
David Foster's Birthday
Earth Katsamonnat's Birthday
JoJo Fletcher's Birthday
Anthony Kiedis's Birthday
Sada Bettencourt's Birthday
Jenny McCarthy's Birthday
Marc D'Amelio's Birthday
Coco Crisp's Birthday
Gabrielle Bernstein's Birthday
Sunset Safari's Birthday
World Communication Week
National Fig Week
National Medical Cannabis Week
​Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month
​Diabetic Eye Disease Month
​National Diabetes Month
​National Epilepsy Awareness Month
​National Family Caregivers Month
National Fun with Fondue Month
​National Impotency Month
National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
National Pepper Month
No Shave November
​PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month
​National Healthy Skin Month
​National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
​National Novel Writing Month
Banana Pudding Lovers Month
National Prevent a Litter Month
Family Stories Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Gluten Free Diet Awareness Month
Manatee Awareness Month
National Adopt A Senior Pet Month
Military Family Month
National Adoption Month
National Roasting Month
National Family Literacy Month
National Gratitude Month
National Native American Heritage Month
National Entrepreneurship Month
Aviation History Month
Filipino Values Month
National Raisin Bread Month
Adopt a Turkey Month
Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
Bladder Health Month
Library and Information Services Month
National Long-term Care Awareness Month
Traditional and Alternative Health Month
National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility
Philippine Book Development Month
National Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Month
Worldwide Bereaved Siblings Month
National Children’s Month
National Repair Done Right Month
National Pomegranate Month
Pet Diabetes Month
National Life Writing Month
National Rice Awareness Month
National Marrow Awareness Month
National Inspirational Role Models Month
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
National Home Care and Hospice Month
National Scholarship Month