It was 29 years ago that the Health Action Network Society sponsored its first health conference, featuring two dozen speakers and 36 exhibits.

Today, this group is continuing the work it began long ago before alternative health care had entered the mainstream--and it's continuing with kudos for its efforts.

Burnaby NOW readers once again voted the group the Best Community Service Organization in the city.

Health Action Network Society is a charitable group with a mission to provide information on preventive medicine and natural therapeutics.

It hosts a website, houses a reference library, publishes Health Action magazine and an e-newsletter and hosts a series of regular educational and networking events.

Its website alone is a treasure trove of information for people looking for information on a wide range of alternative and natural health care options, with topics covering such diverse fields as acupuncture, biofeedback, herbal products, hypnotherapy, reflexology and shiatsu.

The group's website notes that it follows two key strategies to achieve its mission. The first is providing health information in a variety of forms - through the reference library, on the radio, via its website and newsletter, by presenting seminars and more - so people can make informed choices about health care.

The second part of the strategy involves spearheading campaigns on health-related issues, backed with research and public relations campaigns to help bring about regulatory change.

The awareness campaigns have tackled issues including chemical spraying, global warming, environmental pollution, and bovine growth hormone in milk.

Volunteers log up to 15,000 hours a year working on its causes, and the group fields 25,000 inquiries a year about a variety of health topics.

For more information about the group and its tireless efforts to promote health-care options, check out its website at www.hans.org

Want to search for other articles that may interest you?

Readers of this article also enjoyed...