CONSUMER HEALTH

(Complementary and
Alternative Medicine)
• “Consumers today face an
amazing array of choices when
they consider taking action to
improve their health or seek care
for a health problem” (Donatelle,
2006). In addition to health
professionals, there are also many
other forms of healthcare that
offer alternatives.
• These complementary
and alternative
healthcare modalities
are often taken because
some individuals believe
that traditional medical
care may not be enough
to treat a particular
health condition.
 The four major domains of
complementary and alternative
medicines are:
1. BIOLOGY-BASED PRACTICES
• -taking herbal medicine and availing
of special diets and vitamins

• 2. ENERGY MEDICINE
• -uses magnetic fields or biofields in
belief that energy fields may enter
various points in the body
3. MANIPULATIVE AND BODY-BASED
PRACTICES
 -bodily-kinesthetic in nature and are
concerned with movement therapy
4. MIND-BODY MEDICINE
 -uses mental exercises in belief that
the brain is central to the health of an
individual
• In our country, Republic Act No. 8423 or the
Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of
1997 provisioned the creation of the
PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL AND
ALTERNATIVE HEALTHCARE (PITAHC), which
works closely with the Department of Health.
• The PITAHC is also the law-
making body with regards to
the effective use of traditional
and alternative medicine.
Here are examples of the PITAHC-
approved alternative modalities

1) HERBAL MEDICINES
2) NATUROPATHY
 Naturopathy
• “Naturopathic medicine views diseases as
a manifestation of an alteration in the
processes by which the body naturally heals
itself” (Donatelle, 2006). Naturopathy offers a
wide range of natural practices including
herbal medicine acupuncture, acupressure,
nutritional therapy, and ventosa cupping
massage therapy.
Naturopathy
 Herbal medicine
• -There are 10 herbs that are proven and
tested to have medicinal value and approved
by the Department of Health” (Galvez Tan, et
al., 2009)
Here are the ten (10)
medicinal plants that the
Philippine Department of
Health (DOH) through its
"Traditional Health
Program" have endorsed.
AKAPULKO (Cassia alata) - also known as
"ringworm bush" in English, this herbal
medicine is used to treat ringworms and skin
fungal infections.
AMPALAYA (Momordica charantia) - known as
"bitter gourd" or "bitter melon" in English, it most
known as a treatment of diabetes mellitus
BAWANG (Allium sativum) - popularly known
as "garlic", it mainly reduces cholesterol in the
blood and helps control blood pressure.
BAYABAS (Psidium guajava) - It is primarily
used as an antiseptic, to disinfect wounds and
can be used as a mouth wash to treat tooth
decay and gum infection.
LAGUNDI (Vitex negundo) - known in English
as the "5-leaved chaste tree". It's main use is
for the relief of coughs and asthma.
NIYOG-NIYOGAN (Quisqualis indica L.) - is a
vine known as "Chinese honey suckle". It is
effective in the elimination of intestinal worms,
particularly the Ascaris and Trichina.
SAMBONG (Blumea balsamifera) - A diuretic
that helps in the excretion of urinary stones. It
can also be used as an edema.
TSAANG GUBAT (Ehretia microphylla Lam.) -
Prepared like tea, this herbal medicine is
effective in treating intestinal motility and also
used as a mouth wash
ULASIMANG BATO | PANSIT-PANSITAN 
(Peperomia pellucida) - It is effective in fighting
arthritis and gout.
YERBA BUENA (Clinopodium douglasii) -
commonly known as Peppermint, this vine is
used as an analgesic to relive body aches and
pain.