When my mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer over a decade ago, she underwent surgery but refused the recommended chemotherapy. Instead, she opted for herbal treatment. She’d go to this doctor in Multinational Village every week and, after she was assured that the cancer had been arrested, the visits dwindled to once a month. She still goes there. She’s turning 73 next month but if you met her, you wouldn’t believe it. It’s even harder to believe that she’s a cancer survivor.
My mother-in-law’s experience forever changed my views about traditional medicine. Not that I had any real affection for medicines and pharmaceutical companies to begin with but my mother-in-law’s resolve to stick with herbal treatment strengthened my own views about herbal medicine even more.
The truth is, I’ve never looked kindly at chemical-based medicines. I was never the kind of mother who insisted on a pill or tablet or syrup at the first sign of cold or cough. I only gave my daughters antibiotics when their pediatrician prescribed them and only as a last resort. We were lucky because the girls had a pediatrician who believed as I did – medicines should never be prescribed nor taken as placebos. Colds are better cured with rest and lots of fluids and coughs do not always require downing bottles of cough syrups.
I preferred the natural approach to nutrition too. Unlike my mother who drowned my skinny brother with just about every vitamin syrup in the market, I stopped feeding my daughters bottled vitamins right after their first birthdays. Instead, they ate mashed vegetables and fruits. It was good training too because, except for ampalaya, patola and okra, they eat their vegetables to this day.
It follows that I like the natural approach to health and wellness too. When lagundi tablets first made an appearance, I was among the first to embrace them. When malunggay tea bags became available, I sought them in the absence of fresh malunggay leaves. Probably the only commercially available herb mixtures I never tried are the pito-pito and ampalaya tea.
And I simply love herbs. I love the magic that they bring to cooking. I especially love the natural benefits that the human body derives from them. When we moved to the suburb in 2001, I brought this love for everything natural to still another level. I started planting herbs and vegetables in the garden. I’ve been doing it for the past eight years.
We harvest our own sili and sili leaves, we have parsley, oregano, tarragon, mint, three varieties of basil, lemongrass and, occasionally – because they are not that easy to grow – cilantro. There’s even a bag of wheatgrass seeds that I haven’t planted yet. We have fruit trees too – two varieties of lime, two varieties of lemon, avocado, sampalok and ponkan orange. You’re thinking we probably have a huge garden. No, not really. We just keep the ornamental plants to a bare minimum. They might be pretty but I prefer usefulness.
I’ve been an advocate of herb gardening for almost as long as I have been a blogger. But I understand too that gardening may not be a realistic option for city dwellers and their busy lifestyles. I thought they had a real alternative with the entry of herbal health supplements and personal care products in the Philippine market. I thought too that the days of pharmaceutical companies, their lopsided patents and marketing practices that include bribing doctors with expensive gifts and all-expense paid trips, were finally coming to an end. Sadly, most of the herbal medicines that we see in malls are just as expensive as their conventional counterparts. In some cases, they are even more expensive.
Another company engaged in the manufacture of herbal health and personal care products is entering the Philippine market. A snippet of Himalaya’s history from its corporate web site: “Seventy-nine years ago, on a visit to Burma, Himalaya’s founder, Mr. M. Manal, saw restless elephants being fed with a root to pacify them. The plant from which this was taken is Rauwolfia serpentina. Fascinated by the plant’s effect on elephants, he had it scientifically evaluated. After extensive research, Serpina®, the world’s first anti-hypertensive drug, was launched in 1934.” Today, Himalaya’s products not only include herbal medicine but personal and animal care products as well.
The question, of course, is whether the average Filipino can afford Himalaya’s products. During the open forum at the press launch, I just had to ask if the company observes marketing strategies of pharmaceutical companies including the dining and wining and free trips for doctors campaign. I was assured that Himalaya does no such thing and I thought to myself that at least there will be no expensive dinners, gifts and all-expense paid trips that will get passed on to consumers in this case.
And still another herbal healthcare company will make an appearance soon. I received an invitation to attend its launch (via Facebook, believe it or not) but since they’re keeping mum about the company’s name which prevents me from doing an initial research (I prefer to go armed with information), I declined to attend.
Does the proliferation of herbal healthcare companies mean that conventional medicine is on the wane? Oh, I hope so. Of course, the only way they’ll go is with a lot of kicking and screaming but we’ve been at their stranglehold for far too long and it’s about time we get real and viable options. I think that herbal and natural is the way to go.
Hi Connie,
I’m glad to hear your MIL is doing well. I’m a physician specializing in cancer pathology and so I wonder what type of cancer she had and whether it was early (in-situ) or advanced (invasive or metastic) because these factors really determine prognosis (good or bad outcome). I’m guessing it was a type of cancer that innately had a good prognosis (like basal cell cancer of the skin) and was diagnosed at an early stage, thus surgery alone was curative. I’m not a pill-popper myself (because I choke on tablets; it’s psychological but that’s another story) and have the utmost respect in the great tradition of Eastern medicine. However it is undeniable that Western medicine (through better understanding of diseases at the cellular and molecular level) has vastly improved survival from cancer and other diseases. My own mother has been battling depression and anxiety on and off for almost a decade now but we’re dealing with it in a holistic manner- psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, acupuncture, daily meditation and a healthy diet (high fiber/low fat/low salt/all natural). I guess what I’m trying to say is that in my opinion, Western and Eastern medicine complement each other and there shouldn’t be a reason to completely abandon one in favor of the other. Just my two cents’ worth…
It was breast cancer. Late detection so she underwent surgery within a month from finding out.
Oh, I agree they complement one another. I still believe in the benefits of surgery when it is called for.
What I don’t like is the mindset of a LOT of doctors that there is only one way and that one way is always favorable to pharmaceutical companies. Many doctors are practically acting as agents of drug companies because of the freebies (not the cheap kind) they get.
I’m with you on the issue of med reps wining & dining doctors. Luckily, I’m a pathologist and since I don’t have patients (uhm, live ones at least) and don’t prescribe meds, I don’t have that dilemma. I went to med school at UP-PGH where as interns we were taught to prescribe generics. I remember when we did our community medicine rotation in Batangas, we never prescribed meds for patients with viral upper respiratory tract infections (not even cough suppressants) because those are self-limiting illnesses. They probably thought we were clueless and some of them resented us and called us names like “Dr. Tubig” because we would just advise them to drink lots of fluids. Years after, I asked one of my classmates who is now a nephrologist if he still did that or if he has become a pusher for the big drug companies. He said he still enjoys being sponsored by drug companies (esp. for expensive conventions which are important for continuing medical education) but that didn’t prevent him from prescribing generics and only when needed. Of course there are some medicines that are proprietary, in which case there’s no option for doctors but to prescribe them specifically.
By the way, can’t help it but have to comment on invasive breast cancer- good outcome is dependent on whether the surgical margin is free of cancer and if the cancer has not metastasized to the axillary lymph nodes. I’m assuming this was the case for your MIL and I congratulate her for being a survivor!
They say her age has a lot to do with the arrest of the cancer, that she might not have been that lucky if she were in her 40s.
Re “pusher for the big drug companies” HAHAHAHA I like that term.
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I’ve always wondered if a lot of people know that many doctors receive bribes in a variety of forms from pharmaceutical companies. I think that the more people know that such a practice happens the more they’d think twice about swallowing just whatever pill doctors presribe. I’m especially concerned about anti-depressants because I’ve heard there are certain types being given to pregnant mothers who are depressed. It makes one wonder about the outcomes.
Considering the number of medical representatives are employed by pharma companies, then, lots of people know the practice. Question is do they realize the implications of the practice.
Hello Connie, would you know if we have local homeopathy experts (i guess, trained, certified counterparts to doctors)? I am looking for those who can advise me, and I prefer not to consult with companies/business entities).
I am not even sure if homeopathy practitioners are licensed in this country.
Thats the power of nature…natural.
I remember reading a book about a man who has cancer too. And he went for a journey to the himalayas and discover a kind of tea that has healing properties against cancer. I am not sure if that was “TAHEEBO” or something else.
Traditional medicines and practices nowadays make the spotlight. From Ayurveda down to chinese medicines have already a big market and I think it can compete with mainstream medicine. Whats worse…the lack of legal mandates here in the Philippines against malpractise and the like makes traditional medicine a sure and safe way to go for the afflicted.
Hi Connie,
Your MIL is such an inspiration…. Hope I could be like her….Kindly send my best regards to her…. God Bless….
I was diagnosed with Breast Ca Stage II last June 2008. Underwent surgery and 6 rounds of chemotherapy, and now taking tamoxifen. I’m interested to try herbal treatment. Appreciate if you could e-mail me the complete contact details of your MIL doctor in Multinational Village.
Thank you in advance.
It’s a Dr. Lee.
Hi Connie,
Thank you for the reply. Appreciate if you could give the address or contact number of Dr. Lee. Again, thank you in advance.
I only know that he holds clinic at Multinational Village. There are herbal practitioners at Mega Clinic and Clinica Manila both in SM Megamall.
hello Ms. Connie,
I just happened to get into this site for some sources about local homeopath. And just read about your MIL going to Multinational Village. Heard of it from one friend but didnt get the exact name and address of the doctor. Hope you could help me on this for my osteoporosis.
Thanks.
A Doctor Lee, I think.