Pasma (from Spanish espasmo) refers to a "folk illness" unique to the Filipino culture that is said to be most commonly brought about by exposure of "cold" and water in many forms: water is believed to facilitate the unhealthy coldness that enters the body in the Filipino culture. There are distinct signs, symptoms, perceived causes and treatments which are recognized in the folk medicine of the Philippines, but these are not described in medical textbooks, discussed in medical schools, or generally recognized by contemporary medical science. Although, these symptoms have been perceived and testified as verifiable by Filipinos who have experienced sickness after a long hard day of work and abruptly taking a cold shower. [1][2][3][4]
I've been lecturing in several medical schools for several years now and I keep urging health professionals to be more inquisitive about these illnesses because even if these are not recognized by mainstream medicine, the ailments are very real as far as people are concerned, causing suffering and may even be cited as the cause of death, as in the case of "bangungot."
Alongside numerous diseases recognized by Filipino folk medicine, pasma is attributed to an interaction of "init" (heat) and "lamig" (cold).[4] Under certain conditions, the body's muscles (kalamnan) are said to be "hot" and should not be too quickly brought into contact with "cold," in this case usually meaning cold water or air conditioner.[1]
Symptoms and causes
The most common symptoms of pasma are hand tremors, sweaty palms, numbness and pains.[5] "Pasma" is thus very different from the Spanish term from which it takes its root: espasmo, which means "spasm."
Aside from the traditional cause of "init" and "lamig," which is a traditional concept sufficiently intact in the contemporary Philippine psyche to be accepted, alone as a cause for pasma, some correlation has been noted with diseases already recognized by contemporary medicine. For example, symptoms of pasma are similar to those found in people with diabetes mellitus and thyroid dysfunction. It has also been suggested that the complaints are often neurological in nature and may be linked to some kind of nervous dysfunction. There are several ways that a person is believed to be able to prevent Pasma. These include avoiding tiresome, repetitive movements of the upper extremities, showering and bathing in the morning, and avoiding washing clothes after ironing. Folkloric treatments for Pasma include massages using ginger, coconut oil, alcohol, garlic, and camphor oil. Soaking in lukewarm salted water or rice water is believed to cure Pasma, as well is Pasmang-bituka, a daily salted decoction of solasi (Holy basil).
^ abTan, Michael (August 8, 2007). "'Pasma' (Part 1)". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013.
^Tan, Michael (August 10, 2007). "'Pasma' (Part 2)". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013.
^ abde Leon, Remi (2005). "Health Knowledge Processes and Flows in a Coastal Community in Victoria, Laguna Philippines" (Master's Thesis). University of the Philippines Los Baños Graduate School. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); |format= requires |url= (help)
^Palis, F.; Flor, R.; Warburton, H.; Hossain, M. (2006). "Our farmers at risk: behavior and belief system in pesticide safety". Journal of Public Health. 28 (1): 43–48. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdi066. PMID 16436451.
pasma, african, student, organisation, africanist, student, movement, azania, butterfly, genus, butterfly, from, spanish, espasmo, refers, folk, illness, unique, filipino, culture, that, said, most, commonly, brought, about, exposure, cold, water, many, forms,. For the African student organisation see Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania For the butterfly genus see Pasma butterfly Pasma from Spanish espasmo refers to a folk illness unique to the Filipino culture that is said to be most commonly brought about by exposure of cold and water in many forms water is believed to facilitate the unhealthy coldness that enters the body in the Filipino culture There are distinct signs symptoms perceived causes and treatments which are recognized in the folk medicine of the Philippines but these are not described in medical textbooks discussed in medical schools or generally recognized by contemporary medical science Although these symptoms have been perceived and testified as verifiable by Filipinos who have experienced sickness after a long hard day of work and abruptly taking a cold shower 1 2 3 4 University of the Philippines anthropologist Michael Tan states 2 I ve been lecturing in several medical schools for several years now and I keep urging health professionals to be more inquisitive about these illnesses because even if these are not recognized by mainstream medicine the ailments are very real as far as people are concerned causing suffering and may even be cited as the cause of death as in the case of bangungot Alongside numerous diseases recognized by Filipino folk medicine pasma is attributed to an interaction of init heat and lamig cold 4 Under certain conditions the body s muscles kalamnan are said to be hot and should not be too quickly brought into contact with cold in this case usually meaning cold water or air conditioner 1 Symptoms and causes EditThe most common symptoms of pasma are hand tremors sweaty palms numbness and pains 5 Pasma is thus very different from the Spanish term from which it takes its root espasmo which means spasm Aside from the traditional cause of init and lamig which is a traditional concept sufficiently intact in the contemporary Philippine psyche to be accepted alone as a cause for pasma some correlation has been noted with diseases already recognized by contemporary medicine For example symptoms of pasma are similar to those found in people with diabetes mellitus and thyroid dysfunction It has also been suggested that the complaints are often neurological in nature and may be linked to some kind of nervous dysfunction There are several ways that a person is believed to be able to prevent Pasma These include avoiding tiresome repetitive movements of the upper extremities showering and bathing in the morning and avoiding washing clothes after ironing Folkloric treatments for Pasma include massages using ginger coconut oil alcohol garlic and camphor oil Soaking in lukewarm salted water or rice water is believed to cure Pasma as well is Pasmang bituka a daily salted decoction of solasi Holy basil See also EditBangungot UsogReferences Edit a b Jocano F Landa 1973 Folk Medicine in a Philippine Community Quezon City Punlad Research House Inc ISBN 971 622 015 4 a b Tan Michael August 8 2007 Pasma Part 1 Philippine Daily Inquirer Archived from the original on February 22 2013 Tan Michael August 10 2007 Pasma Part 2 Philippine Daily Inquirer Archived from the original on February 21 2013 a b de Leon Remi 2005 Health Knowledge Processes and Flows in a Coastal Community in Victoria Laguna Philippines Master s Thesis University of the Philippines Los Banos Graduate School a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help format requires url help Palis F Flor R Warburton H Hossain M 2006 Our farmers at risk behavior and belief system in pesticide safety Journal of Public Health 28 1 43 48 doi 10 1093 pubmed fdi066 PMID 16436451 http blueknyght pasma blogspot com https books google com books id EktzHrfup1UC Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pasma amp oldid 1147672442, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
