Ginger root.
luya
Ginger is used in many dishes such as atsara, pickled
papaya relish, and aroskaldo chicken rice porridge.
Ginger root is used to treat certain diseases, like
stomachaches, headaches, etc. It's also used as a counter
curse. The ginger is chewed up by the folk healer and then
while it is still in his mouth, he blows on the top of the
head of the patient. He then takes the chewed-up ginger
and makes the sign of the cross on the patient's forehead
and chest. Ginger is also “blown” on children to keep
the ghost of a dead person away. It is also one of the things
placed in a small, black, cloth bag pinned onto children's
clothing to keep bad spirits away.