Health is closely associated with the notion of balance and
equilibrium. Avoiding sudden extreme temperature conditions
and keeping the body heat-balanced are considered important
to health maintenance.29 Many Filipinos generally believe this
hot/cold syndrome which forms the basis for the concept of
pasma literally, ‘spasm’ or ‘exposure illness’28,30 and is characterized
by weakness or trembling muscles or in symptoms like
arthritis, numbness and paralysis.31 Thus this belief in pasma,
like the effects of overheating when wearing gloves or taking a
cold shower right after spraying are thought to be worse than
the effects of pesticides.