Pauline Austria, Micha Domanais

X Roentgen

The Republic Act 8423 or Traditional and

Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA)
“AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
CARE (PITAHC) TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE
HEALTH CARE IN THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FOR A TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE
HEALTH CARE DEVELOPMENT FUND AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

On the year 1992, Senator Juan Flavier from the

Department of Health (DOH) implemented the Traditional Medicine
Program through administrative Order No. 12. The program aims to
promote and advocate traditional medicine in the Philippines. In 1997,
Republic Act 8423 or Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA)
have set the way for the production of alternative medicines from
certain herbs proven safe, effective, and affordable. This Act also
created the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health
Care (PITAHC) which the purpose is to “accelerate the development of
traditional and alternative health care in the Philippine, providing
for a traditional and alternative health care development fund and for
other purposes”.

Importance
The law recognizes the importance of traditional or alternative medicine in providing
essential health care to the people. Despite the medical treatment provided by the
Western countries which at most could not be afforded by Filipinos living below the
poverty line, traditional medicine which has been passed from generation to
generation has become significant in our health care system.

Objectives
To promote and advocate the use of traditional, alternative, preventive and curative
health care modalities that have been proven safe, effective, cost effective and
consistent with government standards on medical practice;

To formulate standards, guidelines and codes of ethical practice appropriate for the
practice of traditional and alternative health care;
To formulate policies to strengthen the role of traditional and alternative health care
delivery system; Incentives for the manufacturers of traditional and alternative health
care products.

TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Traditional alternative medicine may Therapies using the mind may include:

include: Meditation

Acupuncture. Biofeedback

Ayurveda. Hypnosis

Homeopathy.

Naturopathy.

Chinese or Oriental medicine

Body therapies include: Incorporating the senses include:

Chiropractic and osteopathic medicine. Visualization and guided imagery

Massage Art, dance, and music

Body movement therapies

Tai chi

Yoga

Dietary and herbal approaches

may include:

Dietary supplements

Herbal medicine

Nutrition/diet

external energy therapy is:

Electromagnetic therapy:

Reiki

Qigong

Medicinal plants
Herbal Teas

There are two methods of making herbal teas, infusion and decoction. Infusion is
steeping lighter parts of the plant (leaves, flowers, light stems) in boiled water for several
minutes. Decoction is boiling tougher parts, such as roots or bark for a longer period of
time. Herbal teas are often used as a home remedy, and as an alternative to tea and
coffee.

Herbal Tinctures

Steeping a medicinal plant in alcohol extracts the alcohol-soluble principles into a liquid
form that can be stored for long periods. Herbalists may mix several herbal tinctures to
form an individualized prescription for each patient. Plant tinctures are also the basis for
many homeopathic medicines.

Fluid Extracts

Fluid extracts are stronger than herbal tinctures, and can be made with alcohol or
glycerin.

Herbal Poultices

Poultices are a solid, vegetable fat based mixture used externally. They have the
shortest life span of any herbal remedy and must be made fresh for every use.

Powdered Herbs And Tablets

Herbs that are dried and (sometimes) certain parts are separated out then diced to
powder fine consistency. Powered matter can then be compressed or put in an empty
pill coating to form a tablet

Herbal Creams And Ointments

An ointment usually is mixed with beeswax (or something similar) to make it more
applicable to outside the body, such as on a cut or scrape.

Essential Oils

Extraction of volatile liquid plant materials and other aromatic compounds from plants
gives essential oils. These plant oils may be used internally in some forms of herbal
medicine as well as in aromatherapy and generally for their perfume, although their
medicinal use as a natural treatment (alternative medicine) has proved highly
efficacious in the treatment of headache and muscle pain, joint pain and certain skin
diseases

Herbal Supplements

Herbal supplements tend to be commercial products in tablet or capsule form

manufactured and marketed by the health food industry for sale in retail outlets to the
general public, although there are some types that are sold only to healthcare
practitioners for prescription. Herbal supplements are often standardized to contain
stated levels of active phytochemicals. Some herbalists may not agree with the
standardization of active ingredients, preferring instead to use the whole plant.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/types-of-complementary-and-
alternative-medicine

https://prezi.com/5h3tad5hrqom/traditional-and-alternative-medicine-act-of-1997/

http://pitahc.gov.ph/about/republic-act-no-8423/

https://www.trending.ph/2019/03/what-happened-to-ra-8423-the-traditional-and-alternative-medicine-act/

https://kbl.org.ph/philippine-traditional-and-alternative-medicine/