Filipino Remedies
Aira Dolfo
Today, wellness surrounds us in forms of vitamin supplements, clean eating ads and juice trends. At the same time, we are surrounded by junk food marketing and processed foods. Both industries use branding and overused, friendly verbiage to lure consumers. Modern diets and the commercialization of wellness create a conflicting environment for consumers to make healthier choices for themselves.
Prior to these trends and topics, people practiced traditional home remedies and cultural health practices. Traditional healing is ingrained in Filipino culture with documentation dating back to pre-Spanish colonization. People may often be skeptical of home remedies. However, they do contain cultural significance and have been successful for people. How can we highlight and share traditional health practices and remedies today?
Filipino Remedies is a resource designed to share traditional Filipino remedies as a response to mainstream health trends and the commercialization of food. An online platform and printed newspaper were created to showcase this information both in a digital and analog format. The website was launched and newspapers were distributed at a local Filipino store in New Jersey. Information such as taste, step by step instructions and time duration were included to help users find the right remedy for them. These remedies are not intended to replace professional medical advice but serve as an alternative natural resource. The goal of this project suggests a return to natural processes and remedies which allow people to be more intentional about their consumption of food and health choices.