auricula judae/Wood Ear Canvas Print

In the West, A. auricula-judae was used in folk medicine as recently as the 19th century for complaints including sore throats, sore eyes and jaundice, and as an astringent. Although it is not widely consumed in the West, it has long been popular in China, to the extent that Australia exported large volumes to China in the early twentieth century. Today, the fungus is a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, such as hot and sour soup, and also used in Chinese medicine. It is also used in Ghana, as a blood tonic. Modern research into possible medical applications has variously concluded that A. auricula-judae has antitumour, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties

Hello: I have been photographing nature and the natural world for the past 35 years. Being born and raised in Northern Minnesota, I was introduced to nature at a very early age. Some of my first memories are of walking with my dad or grandfather in the woods. Countless hours as a child and youth were spent hunting, fishing, and exploring in the vast wilderness I called home. I always preferred shooting with my camera over with a gun and started to develop my style and my “eye” early on. Photography has always been more than an interest or hobby to me. It is an essential part of who I am and a major way I express this to others. Although my training and degrees are in the field of counseling and psychology, photography has remained my first...