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The peat therapy resort Moorbad Gmös in the vicinity of the town of Laakirchen (situated on the edge of the Salzkammergut) is one of the few moorland areas in the Alpine foothills of Upper Austria. The moor dates back to the Mindel glaciation and was created by a "dead-ice hole". In 1987 the local authorities of Upper Austria declared the Area of 3.4 ha of the Gmöser Moor a natural preserve. A path around the area has since then given the visitor the opportunity of observing rare flora and fauna species. In 2002 the spa was chosen as background scenery for the TV-production "Schloßhotel Orth".

The moor-pond behind the spa

About the area[link]

The habitat was formed on a Moraine of the Mindel glaciation and forms one of the few moors in the Alpine foothills on the east side of the Traun River. Up to the time that humans began to interfere with nature, a moor landscape with its variety of flora and fauna was able to develop. Due to cultivation of the moor landscape by man (drainage, peat-working, litter-harvesting etc.) the 3,4 ha Gmöser Moor can today be designated as a moor land forest or as a lower moor land which the original forms of flora and fauna have survived.

This was the reason that the Gmöser Moor was declared to be a natural preserve in 1987.

Fauna[link]

Due to the number of animals – of which some are severely endangered and all under protection – the Gmöser Moor represents a unique refuse and environment in form of a biotope for the region. For example, you can find Amphibians such as Yellow-bellied toads (Bombina variageta) – decidedly water inhabitants – and Reptiles such as the Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) which live in damp forests, swamp and moor lands.

A great number of Bird species find the best conditions for breeding and have been observed for a number of years.

The Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris^[1]) is to be found her with the only breeding colony of the whole area.

The Marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris^[2]) is not solely bound to reed landscapeds, but is mainly to be found in bushy areas. It is a summer guest for us and spends the winter in Africa.

The Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra^[3]) can be found in the surrounding meadows, as it is a typical meadow bird, which breeds on the ground. In the surroundings of the Gmöser Moor this bird could only be observed one or two times when breeding. The Whinchat is also a summer guest in Austria and spends the winter in Africa

The Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea^[4]) remains with us all year round. It breeds in caves and draws the observer's attention to itself by being able to crawl headfirst down trees.

The Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus^[5]) only visits us as a summer guest at the end of April on its return journey from Africa. It only breeds irregularly in Gmös, whereby its nest is strictly obscured high up in the trees. The male bird can be easily recognized by its bright yellow and black feathers.

The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus^[6]) can be observed over all open areas with flattering wings spread over a certain area and then pouncing down with closed wings on its prey of mice or other small mammals.

Other observed Bird species^[7]:

hatching bird species[link]

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix), Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), Quail (Coturnix coturnix), Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), Blackbird (Turdus merula), Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris), Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus), Great Tit (Parus major), Coal Tit (Periparus ater), Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla), Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius), European Magpie (Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corvus corone), Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) und Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus).

migrants, former breeding birds and guests[link]

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Garganey (Anas querquedula), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Red Kite (Milvus milvus), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Hobby (Falco subbuteo), Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Curlew (Numenius arquata), Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), Tawny Owl (Strix aluco), Common Swift (Apus apus), Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus), European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Delichon urbica), Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), Dunnock (Prunella modularis), Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), Redwing (Turdus iliacus), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina), Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca), Whitethroat (Sylvia communis), Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis), Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus), Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus), Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), Common Raven (Corvus corax), Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), Serin (Serinus serinus), Siskin (Carduelis spinus), Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Linnet (Carduelis cannabina), Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) and Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra).

The manifold biotope structures and the special climate features which are prevalent in a moor landscape result in an extremely diverse insect world, which serves as a food source for the birds of the area.

In the area where peat is dug, one can observe the most different sorts of Dragonflies and a great number of Mosquitos (Culicidadae).

Flora[link]

The vegetation of the moor landscape is dominated mainly by moor land forests dominated by moor birch trees. Here one can observe the remnants of a great number of plants which are typical for moor land areas. Among these are the Downy birch (Betula pubescens), European heather (Calluna vulgaris), Milk Parsley (Peucedanum palustre), Blanket Mire (Eriophorum vaginatum) and Common sedge (Carex nigra).

Peat diggings can be found both in the centre and on the edges of the moor. The older sites are covered with marsh moss, whereas others can be identified by their duckweed, marsh cinquefoil and sparganium growth.

Peat Moss (Sphagnum sp.) is an excellent water store. They die off at the point where they stand in water and continue growing above this point. The underlying dead particles are continually compressed downwards by the new growth from above. Thus, over a period of several ten thousands of centuries, provided that the climate and environmental conditions are in order, smaller or larger layers of peat are created. The moor layer in Gmös is, however, not exceptionally thick, as the peat mosses could not compete with the pressure applied and could therefore not turn into an ombrothopfic moor.

On the pond within the moor landscape a widespread reed-cultivation has developed.

The peat pulp resort[link]

History of the Spa in Gmös[link]

Around 1900 Johann Vizithum – a farmer in the neighbouring village of Rahstorf – used to dig peat in order to obtain fuel to run his threshing machine. He had suffered over years from severe Arthritis and realised, that whenever he trod barefoot in the bog, he experienced a definite improvement of his ailments. This was the reason that the Moorbad Gmös was founded in 1907. Since that time peat has been manually dug and prepared on a daily basis. Following the applications the peat is returned to the moor.

Centennial[link]

100 years ago – in time of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, when the Emperor of Austria had spent his summer holidays at the spas of Karlovy Vary, Františkovy Lázně and Mariánské Lázně in the Czech Republic – even a small Upper-Austrian village got its first peat therapy spa. 1907 the first owner named the spa after his wife Cäcilia and people from all over the country came not only because of the established guest house but also because of the new bath house.
Cäcilienbad has been renamed into Moorbad Gmös, the infrastructure has been adapted to the contemporary requirements and even the methods of treatment have been improved and expanded in order to guarantee the patient’s recovery.

On 11 August an event of the Gmundner Festival is guest in Gmös for the first time. Peter Raab reads Thomas Bernhard's „Wut und Komik" in a Matinee [2].

Bath house

The Cure in the Bath House[link]

The traditional cure in Gmös is a combination of mud baths, peat-packs and massages. This results in a synergetic effect, which in turn positively enforces the healing and soothing processes. The mud baths and the peat-packs especially cleanse the muscles and the body.

Massages[link]

Individually specified massages are essential for improving the muscular function and serve to improve all the muscular movements apparatus. Foot- and ear-reflex zone massage and special forms of traditional massage are used as supportive measures. Thus any tension and over acidification of the muscles, which often lead to pain and loss of mobility, can be treated.

The mud bath[link]

The mud bath is prepared directly from peat taken from the moor together with moor water which is rich in content. In order to increase the typical thermal factor the water is mixed with peat.

Peat-Packs[link]

The parts if the body to be treated are covered with permeable fleece packs containing peat. According to requirement either the whole or parts of the body are then wrapped and subjected to a 50 Min cleansing procedure.

Indications[link]

The cure helps with rheumatism, lumbago, sciatica, gout, all wear symptoms of the joints and the spine, chronic arthritis, the symptoms following broken bones and all over-tension of the muscles.

Guest House

The Guest House[link]

The guest house is in the direct vicinity of the Bath-House, in order to offer those guests who do not live near the possibility of being treated. Both the Guest House and the Spa are family businesses, which with their maximum capacity of 16 guests, offer everybody individual treatment.

Chapel

Chapel Gmös[link]

The building of the Chapel Gmös began in 1982. After a construction period of 3 months the consecration ceremony could be carried out in the form of mass conducted by the abbot – Mr. Siebenhütter – of the monastery in Lambach.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Moorbad Gmös

• Official website
• DORIS interMAP-Entry detailed view of the area in the map of the local authorities
• The municipality's Information about the preserve

Coordinates: 47°58′16.2″N 13°51′22.9″E / 47.971167°N 13.856361°E / 47.971167; 13.856361

Gary Michael Null (born in 1945) is an American talk radio host and author on alternative and complementary medicine and nutrition. On his talk radio show and in his books and self-produced movies, Null has criticized the medical community, promoted a range of alternative cancer treatments and dietary supplements, and questioned the link between HIV and AIDS.

In 2010, Null reported that he had been poisoned and nearly killed by ingesting one of his own dietary supplements, "Gary Null's Ultimate Power Meal". Null sued a contractor involved in producing the supplement, alleging that it contained more than 1,000 times the dose of vitamin D reported on the label, leading to the hospitalization of Null and six other consumers with vitamin poisoning.^[1][2][3]

Early life and education[link]

Null was raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia, with his two brothers. He holds an Associate Degree in Business Administration as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey. He received a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Union Institute & University, a private distance-learning college in Cincinnati, Ohio.^[4] Null's thesis was entitled "A Study of Psychological and Physiological Effects of Caffeine on Human Health." His credentials and the rigor of his Ph.D. program were questioned by Stephen Barrett of Quackwatch.^[5] Null is a New York State Certified dietitian-nutritionist.^[6]

Viewpoints[link]

Null attacks many facets of mainstream medicine, arguing that physicians have an economic interest in promoting rather than preventing sickness. In the 1970s, Null co-authored a series of articles on cancer research for Penthouse, beginning with one entitled "The Great Cancer Fraud."^[7] In Penthouse, Null accused the medical community of "suppressing alternative cancer treatments to protect the medical establishment's solid-gold cancer train." In place of standard medical therapy, Null advocated alternative cancer treatments such as hydrazine sulfate. In 1999 TIME wrote of Null's conspiracy claims: "From a young reporter this is to be expected. But two decades later, Null, 54, is still warning of a variety of medical bogeymen out to gull a trusting public."^[8]

In addition to his promotion of alternative cancer treatments, Null has argued that HIV is harmless and does not cause AIDS.^[8] In his book AIDS: A Second Opinion, Null questioned the role of antiretroviral medication and instead advocated a range of dietary supplements for HIV-positive individuals. His book was criticized as "massive, irresponsible and nearly unreadable" by Salon.com,^[9] and Seth Kalichman cited Null as a prominent proponent of AIDS denialism, cashing in on HIV/AIDS and repeating the claims of other denialists. Kalichman compared Null's activities to Holocaust denial and stated that Null was an example of a dangerous entrepreneur who "obviously breached" the balance between free speech versus protecting public health.^[10]

In 2009, Null was the keynote speaker at a rally opposing mandatory H1N1 influenza vaccination during the 2009 pandemic, leading the state health department to dismiss Null's claims about the vaccine as "not scientifically credible."^[11]

Radio and video work[link]

Null began broadcasting a syndicated radio talk show, Natural Living with Gary Null in 1980.^{[citation needed]} His show was broadcast first on WBAI, then on the VoiceAmerica Network and over the internet. Null's show subsequently returned to WBAI, leading to protests from ACT-UP New York and other AIDS activist groups concerned by Null's promotion of AIDS denialism.^[12][13]

Null has made several self-funded and self-produced documentary films on public policy issues, personal health, and development. His videos have been aired by PBS during pledge drives, but concern arose within PBS over the videos' sensational claims. Ervin Duggan, the president of PBS, expressed concern that by showing Null's videos, the network was "open[ing] the door to quacks and charlatans."^[14] Null implied that his problems with PBS may have been an attempt to silence him, saying: "The guardians of the gates of orthodoxy at PBS... you don't know who their friends are."^[8]

Dietary supplements and vitamin poisoning[link]

Null owns Gary Null & Associates, a company which markets dietary supplements, as well as a health-food store in New York City.^[15] In 2010, Null claimed that he was sickened and nearly killed by his own dietary supplements.^[1][3][2] He filed suit against a contractor involved in producing the supplement, "Gary Null's Ultimate Power Meal", claiming that the supplement contained 1,000 times the labeled dose of Vitamin D and that it had led to the hospitalizations of 6 consumers poisoned by excessive doses of the vitamin.^[1] Null reportedly suffered severe pain and kidney damage from "Gary Null's Ultimate Power Meal", but continued consuming the supplement in the belief that it would relieve his symptoms.^[1]

The New York Post noted that Null's near-death experience with his own supplement brand was "not exactly a ringing endorsement."^[1] The Los Angeles Times wrote that Null's experience "should give pause to anyone lured by the extravagant claims of many supplements makers", and noted that it was common for dietary supplements to contain doses "wildly different than those indicated on their label" as a result of weak regulation.^[3] Null's attorney cast the alleged vitamin poisoning as an isolated incident, saying: "We don't want anything to affect the physical well-being of anyone or the reputation of the company."^[2]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Gary Null at the Internet Movie Database
• Homepage on Progressive Radio Network