Hilot Wellness Massage

Quarter 1: Module 2

Lesson PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE OF WELLNESS

1 MASSAGE

Target
Hilot is an ancient Filipino art of healing commonly used today to relax stressed muscles.
Manghihilots or Hilot practitioners as well as arbularyos are usually cheaper alternatives to
medical doctors in the Philippines, especially in very deep rural areas. Hilot employ
chiropratic manipulation and massage for the diagnosis and treatment of
musculoligamentous and musculoskeletal ailments. They also have been known to reset
dislocated and sprained joints such as the knee, ankle, fingers and metacarpal bones. Hilot
tend to be chiropractors while albularyos tend to be herbalist. Midwives are also hilots.
In your previous lesson, you are done with the different wellness massage services
and products. The services include acupressure, reflexology massage, Swedish massage,
deep tissue, sports massage, stone massage and pregnancy massage. Products include
liniments, massage accessories, body oils and bath oils.
This learning material will provide you with information and activities that will
help you understand the philosophy and science of wellness massage.
After going through this learning material, you are expected to attain this learning
competency.

Learning Competency
 Explain the philosophy and science of wellness massage. (TLE_HEWM912WP-Ia-j-1)

Be ready and study the world of wellness and health!

Discover
The word massage came from the Ancient Greek word
"massin” which means “to knead” and the Arabic word "mass”
or the Hebrew "mashesh” (to press). Massage is a procedure
that involves manipulating soft parts of the body for
therapeutic or relaxation purposes. It is a popular worldwide
practice. Let us take a tour on how massage is being practiced
around the world.
Table 1. Some of the famous massage techniques and the country/ies where it originated.

NAME OF THE MASSAGE TECHNIQUE COUNTRY/IES OF ORIGIN

Hilot The Philippines

Amna/Amma Originated in China but developed in
Japan
Aromatherapy Egypt, Greece, Italy
Hot Stone Arizona, USA
Thai Thailand
Shiatsu Japan
Blind China
Acu-yoga China and India
Acupressure China
Reflexology China

History of Filipino Traditional Medicine

 Filipino Traditional Medicine has been practice for more than a thousand years as
recorded in the annals of Asian travelers on 8th century A.D.
 While Filipino Traditional Medicine has its root in the indigenous cultures of the various
ethnic and linguistic groups in the Philippines. Massage in the Philippines is a tradition
as old as the islands first inhabitants. Most widely known as Hilot or Hilut, the massage
tradition is known as a variety of other names in the different dialects of the
Philippines. Aplos (Bontok) Aptus (Ivatan) Unar (Kalinga)
Kemkem (Pangasinan) Ilot or Ilut (Ilokano) Itawis (Zambales),
Ilu (Ibanag), Ilat (Isneg) Elot (Ilonggo), Agod or Agud
(Mindanao) Hagod (Bukidnon) and Ablon (Northerm Ilocano).

 Touch is the modality of Hilot. Initially one might think it is

simply a massage, but Hilot has more. The training of Hilot
practitioners involves learning the concepts and philosophy of
traditional healing, instilling and individual value process and
its relevance to Hilot healing and understanding the body
functions for the application of Hilot healing.

Source: http://www.thepinoywarrior.com/2011/01/

Massage in Classical Greece and Rome

The Greeks believed in the cultivation of a healthy mind and body, which is
similar to the holistic approach practiced by many people today. Rituals of bathing,
massage, exercise or dancing were practiced by men and women. They encouraged
the pursuit of physical fitness and organized regular sporting, gymnastic and athletic
competitions. Massage was used before events to improve performance and after
events to relieve fatigue and aid recovery. Gladiators and soldiers were massaged
before battle to give vigor and promote fitness and health, and afterwards to aid
recovery, healing and relaxation.
 Source: https://brewminate.com/medicine-in-ancient-greece-and-rome/

The Dark Ages to the Renaissance

Little is known about massage or health and beauty practices throughout the
Dark and Middle Ages, i.e. from the decline of the Roman Empire around 500 AD
until the Middle Ages around 1400 AD. Few records remain from those days of wars,
strict religions, superstition and persecution. Little value was placed on education,
the arts, physical health and fitness. Following this period came the Renaissance
(rebirth) in 1450 AD. Interest in the arts and sciences flourished and there was
renewed interest in health practices. Once again we see massage advocated and
practiced for therapeutic purposes.

Source: https://149472197.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/massage-therapy-history.jpg

Twentieth-Century Developments
During the First World War the demand for massage to treat the injured grew
and many more massage therapists were trained. Membership of the Society of
Trained Masseuses grew and in 1920 it amalgamated with the Institute of Massage
and Remedial Exercise. In recognition of the valuable work contributed by its
members during the war, a Royal Charter was granted and the title was changed to
the Chartered Society of Massage and Medical Gymnastics. The title was changed
again in 1943 and became the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. In 1964 its
members became state registered. With the development of alternative electrical-
based treatments, the use of massage to treat medical conditions declined. There
was rapid growth in electrotherapy and eventually massage ceased to be part of
physiotherapy training. It became little used as a therapeutic treatment in hospitals.

Source: https://www.naturalhealers.com/blog/history/

What are the important breakthroughs in Wellness

Massage?
 Shiatsu- is a pressure technique on specific points known as acupuncture and
acupressure nowadays. It was originally practiced by Chinese known as Amma/Anma,
but then developed by Japanese, earlier called as Tsubo.

Source: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/

 Holistic Approach- is the cultivation of healthy mind and body which was earlier
practiced by Greeks through rituals (such as bathing, massage exercise or dancing) and
physical fitness (such as sporting, gymnastic and athletic competition).
 The pressure is beneficial in upward direction towards the heart as discovered by
Hippocrates by observing the effect on the tissues of different massage strokes to his
patients.
 Romans practiced massage manipulations such as squeezing, pinching, and pummeling
known as petrissage and percussion today.
 Passive and active exercises through gymnastics were introduced by a Swedish
physiologist named Per Henrik Ling who is credited as the father of Swedish massage.
He used the terms such as effleurage, petrissage, vibration, friction, rolling and
slapping.

Effleurage Petrissage Vibration

Friction

Rolling
The following facts also help you understand more about the concepts of Wellness Massage
 Even in the earliest times, evidence showed that massage is used to improve general
health and well-being.
 Herodicus is a Greek physician who used massage oils and herbs to treat medical
conditions and diseases.
 Hippocrates is a student of Herodicus who is known to be the father of medicine. He
studied the effects of massage on his patients and concluded that hard rubbing
binds, soft rubbing loosens, much rubbing causes parts to waste, moderate rubbing
makes them grow.
 Herodicus Hippocrates Per Henrik Ling
https:// https:// https://
upload.wikimedia.org/ images.ctfassets.net/ upload.wikimedia.org.com
wikipedia/commons/ /Hippocrates2.jpg mons/8/8f/
6/69/Herodicus.png Pehr_Henrik_Ling.jpg

 Per Henrik Ling introduced the passive and active exercises and credited as the
father of Swedish massage.
 The body can heal, increase, and achieve health and well-being through the aid of
massage therapy.
 Wellness is defined and described as the combination of different aspects of one’s life
and social environment. It is more than nutrition, exercise, or the state of freedom of
disease. It is a dynamic state of awareness of nonphysical aspects of life such as will,
motivation, feelings, and desires, sense of purpose, thoughts, memories, and beliefs.

Name: _____________________________________ Score: ____________

Wellness Massage Quarter 1: Module 2

Activity 3: Knowing my Own Culture

Direction: Explain the philosophy, science, history and development of Hilot or the
traditional Filipino massage. You can use the internet or reference books in making this
activity. But if you do not have these resources, you can ask any of your family members of
their knowledge about Hilot or if possible, ask a Hilot in your place to gather first-hand
information about Hilot. There are some guide questions prepared for you. You can add
important information not mentioned in the guide questions prepared. (Note: This activity
should be in paragraph form.)

Hilot; The Traditional Filipino Massage

Guide questions:
1. What is Hilot?
2. Who introduced or started it?
3. How did it develop?
4. How is it done/performed?
5. Why did Hilot become popular?
6. What are the advantages and disadvantages when one has undergone Hilot?

Your output will be rated using this rubric.

INFORMAL ESSAY RUBRIC

5 4 3 2
FEATURES
EXPERT ACCOMPLISHED CAPABLE BEGINNER
Quality of  Piece was  Piece was  Piece had  Piece had no
Writing written in written in an little style or style or voice
an interesting style voice  Gives no new
extraordina and voice.  Gives some information
ry style and  Somewhat new and very
voice. informative and information poorly
 Very organized but poorly organized.
informative organized.
and well
organized

Grammar,  Virtually  Few spelling  A number of  So many

Usage and no spelling, and spelling, spelling,
Mechanics punctuatio punctuations punctuation punctuation
n or errors, minor or and
grammatic grammatical grammatical grammatical
al errors. errors errors. errors that
interferes
with the
meaning.