The healing art of dagdagay

Most of us don’t know much about the way our ancestors healed themselves. There were no antibiotics centuries ago. Neither were there chiropractors nor physical therapists to treat displaced bones, muscle spasms, and sprained ligaments.  What existed were experts in the art of hilot. Hilot is so indigenously Filipino. I am sure other countries have their own version of hilot and their influences probably got integrated with ours in this ancient art of healing.  Hilot is a kind of touch therapy that is used to heal almost everything — from flu to sprains and dislocated bones.  This art has been practiced in our country for many centuries now, dating back to eras that are not even in the archives of Philippine history.  Hilot masters have not documented the origins and the facts where this ancient art originated, but suffice it to say that it is still practiced nationwide as a substitute for and cheaper means of medical care.

Hilot supposedly relieves stress, and has a rejuvenating and healing effect. A good hilot master would know what ail his clients just by looking at them and sensing their energy.

During my youth, my paternal grandmother and aunts had Mang Tura, who seemed to have had magical hands that could heal all their aches and pains. Like the magician that he was, Mang Tura healed me of a persistent fever that could not be diagnosed by our family doctor. Out of sheer desperation, my mom called Mang Tura on the 10th day of my fever. He applied some hilot therapy on me and miraculously, my fever disappeared.

Talking of hilots, a friend was telling me about Dagdagay, a kind of hilot of the feet which originated from the ancient Igorots and other indigenous tribes of the Mountain Province.

Traditionally, the ancient Igorots walked around without sandals or any kind of footwear. This would lead to foot problems related to dirty feet, hard calluses, cracked, wounded feet. Dagdagay is used as their foot therapy. It is a kind of hilot for the legs and feet. It involves stroking the soles of the feet with bamboo sticks in order to stimulate them before applying deep strokes or hagod.The stick served two functions: concentrating the pressure on specific pressure points and cleaning the feet by scraping dirt and dead skin away.

Dagdagay has been practiced for centuries in the Igorot communities with the young often massaging the feet of the old.

In many spas around the city, modern applications of dagdagay therapy begin with the feet being washed and rubbed with coconut oil and covered in a paste of clay and the hilot’s often secret medicinal herbs. This clay pack is allowed to dry and the massage therapy begins. It starts with chanting magical incantations and targets specific pressure points in a circular motion, depending on the cure desired.

This is reputed to be great therapy for high blood pressure, blood circulation, hormonal imbalance, and depressive disorder and stress.

Before the hilot starts the feet are covered with clay and a concoction of medicinal herbs.

The treatment applies acupressure on the feet using two bamboo or rattan sticks in place of finger pressure to stimulate the soles and cleanse and purify the feet’s toxins by concentrating the pressure along their specific meridians. It is a way of accessing the body’s entire immune system through the soles of the feet.

This Cordileran/Ifugao healing heritage is now a popular de-stresser and healing treatment in popular spas in Metro Manila.

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Interested parties may visit Shui Hilot Healing Spa in Tropical Palms, Perea St., Legaspi Village, Neo Spa at One Net Center, 26th St. corner 3rd Ave.Global City, telephone number 584-6789, and the Chi Spa at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.