Health-conscious Canadians now have an online resource designed just for them. Toronto-based pixcode Inc, developers of Massage.ca, the online directory for massage therapy, has introduced NaturalHealthcare.ca, a comprehensive listing of alternative-health practitioners, suppliers, and services. NHC is currently accessible at http://www.naturalhealthcare.ca.

With home Internet use at an all time high, it was inevitable that searching for health information would be a hot button. A December 2002 Ipsos Reid survey found that two thirds of Canadians with Internet access have visited at least one health site, and sixty-six percent of them would investigate Alternative or Complementary care whether or not their physician approved.

One such person is Laura Alleyne, who was diagnosed with diabetes a little over a year ago. "My doctor prescribed a particular medication for my diabetes, and I went home and looked it up online. I found out that people were dying from taking it. I stopped taking it immediately and informed him of my decision," she says. Laura says she uses the Internet to look up alternative healing options. "I look for information about vitamins and herbs. I want nutritional and lifestyle information about handling diabetes instead of using drugs."

Anne Perera is a Registered Massage Therapist who speaks first-hand about seeing an increase in business through the World Wide Web. "About twenty percent of my clients mention having found me through my massage.ca web site," she says. Anne also speaks candidly about the process people discuss having gone through in doing research online. "Most people tell me they first look up the specific symptoms or ailments they are suffering and try to find others who have had the same experience. There are a lot of people who have simple one-page sites discussing their health experiences and the problems they had finding the right treatment. Then they tell what worked for them in the end, and this seems to be what people are looking for - the solution to their suffering."

NaturalHealthcare.ca is free to the public and does not require registration. It offers multiple glossaries including Therapy Types, Accreditation details, Herbal Remedies, and Lore. It also has searchable databases of practitioners, products, services, and retailers.

Gisela McKay, Director of Software Development for pixcode and project lead for NaturalHealthcare.ca, says the site is built on the same principles as Massage.ca. "Our goal is to have the most complete database possible. To make sure the information is up to date and accurate, we give the basic directory listing away [to the practitioners. Those who want more exposure can pay for an upgrade - just like they do with the Yellow Pages." The site is paid for through hosting, banner ads and listing upgrades.

They are currently offering practitioners the chance to win logo gear when they update their listing information. The draw will take place in January 2004.

You can visit the Natural Healthcare Canada website at http://www.naturalhealthcare.ca.

For more information contact:

Gisela McKay, pixcode Inc.

press@pixcode.com

(416) 875-3771

 

 

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