Albularyo
The Filipino folk healer, from the Spanish word for herb-doctor, who combines plants, prayers and sometimes spirit diagnosis.
Also: herbolario, arbularyo, manghihilot
Albularyo, from the Spanish herbolario, is a village healer in the Philippines. A person may consult one for a sickness believed to come from a spirit, from a bad look, or from stepping on the home of an unseen being, a belief known in Tagalog as usog or lamig depending on the complaint. The albularyo may use herbs, prayer, the reading of melted candle wax or tawas, and a rite to ask pardon of spirits. Many mix Catholic prayers with older ideas. Hilot is a related practice of massage and birth care. Health officials urge anyone who is seriously ill to see a doctor, and the albularyo is often consulted in addition, rather than instead.