Hilot is Filipino manual therapy CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
I grew up with an uncle who practiced hilot, which is Filipino manual therapy. My study of the FMA gave me a renewed appreciation and respect of this healing art. Examining it through the perspective of modern mind-body medicine, I realized that there is solid science behind hilot and other Filipino healing arts. But what is more amazing is that the early Filipinos knew the dark side of this skill. Their deep knowledge of herbology for instance could be used either to heal or kill. I discussed this in detail in my article A Lost Art: Ancient Filipino Methods of Concocting Poisons.