History of nursing in

the Philippines

Early beliefs and practices

Diseases and their causes and treatment were shrouded

with mysticism and superstitions.

1. Beliefs about causation of disease:
a. Another person (an enemy or a witch)
b. Evil spirits

2. People believe that evil spirits could be driven
away by persons with powers to expel
demons.

3. People believed in special gods of healing, with
the priest physician (called “word doctors”) as
intermediary. If they used leaves or roots, they
were called herb doctors (“Herbolarios”).

Early care of the sick

The early Filipinos subscribed to superstitious beliefs
and practices in relation to health and sickness.
Herbmen were called “Herbicheros”, meaning one who
practice witch craft. Persons suffering from diseases
without any identified cause were believed to be
bewitched by the “mangkukulam” or “mangagaway”.
Difficult childbirth and some diseases (called “pamao”)
were attributed to “nonos”. Midwife assisted in child birth.
During labor, the “mabuting hilot” (good midwife) was
called in. If the became difficult, witches were supposed
to be the cause. To disperse their influence, gunpowder
was exploded from a bamboo cane close to the head of
the sufferer.