Original Article 1 BS, School of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, Philippines. 2 BS, RN, LPT, MBA, MHSS. School of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, Philippines. 3 BS, RMT. School of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, Philippines. 4 BS, RPh. School of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, Philippines. About the Author: Nadine Angela O. Rondilla, Ian Christopher N. Rocha, Shannon Jean R. Roque, Ricardo Martin S. Lu, Alyssa A. Solaiman-Balt, and Theorell Joshua J. Abion are 4th year medical students, while Nica Lois B. Apolinar, Pauline Bianca P. Banatin, and Carina Viktoria M. Javier are 3rd year medical students from Centro Escolar University, Manila, Philippines of a 4-year Doctor of Medicine program. Correspondence: Ian Christopher Rocha Address: Centro Escolar University, 9 Mendiola St., Manila, Philippines Email: rocha1750018@ceu.edu.ph Editor: Francisco J. Bonilla-Escobar Student Editors: Brandon Belbeck & Azher Syed Copyeditor: Sohaib Haseeb Proofreader: Ciara Egan Layout Editor: Francisco J. Bonilla-Escobar Submission: Nov 21, 2020 Revisions required: Jan 27, 2021; Feb 17, 2021; Mar 21, 2021 Received in revised form: Feb 10, 2021; Feb 17, 2021; Apr 19, 2021 Acceptance: Apr 19, 2021 Publication: Apr 30, 2021 Process: Peer-reviewed Int J Med Students • 2021 | Jan-Apr | Vol 9 | Issue 1 DOI 10.5195/ijms.2021.849 | ijms.info The International Journal of Medical Students 25 Folk Medicine in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study of Health-Seeking Individuals Nadine Angela O. Rondilla, 1 Ian Christopher N. Rocha, 2 Shannon Jean R. Roque, 1 Ricardo Martin S. Lu, 1 Nica Lois B. Apolinar, 3 Alyssa A. Solaiman- Balt, 4 Theorell Joshua J. Abion, 1 Pauline Bianca P. Banatin, 1 Carina Viktoria M. Javier. 1 Abstract Background: Folk medicine refers to traditional healing practices anchored in cultural beliefs of body physiology and health preservation. Reflective of indigenous heritage, it fosters a better understanding of health and disease, healthcare systems, and biocultural adaptation. In the Philippines, Quiapo is a well-known site for folk medicine services, cultural diversity, religious practices, and economic activities. Methods: This study utilized a phenomenological approach to comprehend the lived experiences of health-seeking individuals and the meaning behind their acquisition of folk medicine products. Using convenience sampling, seven participants acquiring folk medicine products in Quiapo on the day of data collection were approached and interviewed on separate instances. The collected data subsequently underwent thematic analysis. Results: Analysis revealed three emergent themes: health-seeking behavior, sources of knowledge, and folk medicine utilization. Health-seeking behavior was linked with the participants’ purpose of going to Quiapo, reasons for utilizing folk medicine, experiences in using folk medicine, and beliefs associated with the product bought. Sources of knowledge tackled the participants’ sources of information about Quiapo and its products. Folk medicine utilization relates to the type of product bought, its perceived medicinal use, and its history of usage. Conclusion: Folk medicine is perceived to be effective in alleviating health concerns. The acquisition of such products is attributed to satisfaction from prior experience, distrust in the current healthcare system, family tradition, and intention to supplement existing medical treatment. This study provides health professionals a better understanding of patients who patronize folk medicine, subsequently aiding them in providing a holistic approach to treatment. Key Words: Traditional medicine; Medical anthropology; Folk medicine; Indigenous medicine; Health care seeking behavior; Philippines (Source: MeSH-NLM). Introduction Medical anthropology is hardly tackled in the field of medicine as it deviates from conventional standards. It is a branch of social sciences that draws upon social, cultural, and biological anthropology to better understand factors influencing human health. This includes the science behind the experience and explanation of illness and disease, the prevention and treatment of sickness, and the healing processes. Likewise, it also involves other factors such as the social relations of therapy management, the biocultural and political study of health ecology and its adaptations, the cultural importance and utilization of pluralistic healthcare systems in culturally diverse environments, and even magic and sorcery. 1-3 Folk medicine is a field that falls under medical anthropology. It refers to traditional health knowledge and healing practices anchored on indigenous beliefs regarding body physiology and health preservation. 4 It incorporates herbals or plant-based medicines, animal derivatives, natural minerals, spiritual therapies, manual techniques, and physical exercises, which are either applied singularly or in combination, with the intention to either maintain wellbeing or to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness. 5 It exists today as a diverse blend of traditional medicine that has been widely practiced in China, India, and Greek Persia since time immemorial, along with western medicine, while retaining its unique socio-cultural characteristics. 6 These practices foster a people-centered, cross-cultural, transdisciplinary, and critically reflective approach to both the structural and social models of health. 7 In the Philippines, folk medicine is an organized body of traditional practices and beliefs that mirrors the country’s indigenous culture and heritage. It basks in locally accepted concepts of disease causation, utilizes distinct techniques and human instinct as the means to reach a diagnosis, and applies unique methods of treatment, distinct from the conventional practices of western medicine. 8,9 Quiapo, located at the heart of the City of Manila, is well-known as a center for religious and economic activities nationwide. It serves as a heritage site for cultural diversity and is a thriving area for businesses as its commercial centers continuously expand annually. It is home to the largest market in the Philippines, known as the Quiapo Market, which is situated right beside the famous and frequented Quiapo Church. 10,11 Given the diversity of cultures eminent in the Philippines, a wide array of herbal concoctions is openly displayed on kiosks that span the whole area of the market. Despite being famed for its abortive herbal concoctions and love potions, herbal remedies are also readily available for healing physical ailments, such as coughs, colds, headaches, or fevers. 11-13 In addition, Filipinos can also find perhaps the most exotic products and services one could ever be interested in, such as magic candles, pickled snakes, jarred scorpions, amulets, palm and tarot readers, and occult services. 11,12 With that said, diversity deems to be an appropriate theme to associate with Quiapo. Moreover, it is a religious site for people of different religions but has gained notoriety as it also serves as a hub for criminal activities. It is seen as a thriving marketplace by vendors, yet it also represents various main