Name: www.ojasnaturals.com
Address: Ashland, OR, 97520, US
Telephone: 541-324-2714

Intention

I share the many diverse paths of my life’s journey, infusing my teachings with the deep love I have for the plants and the cultures that nurture them.

In my work, I guide others through plant meditations, herb walks, plant spirit medicine walks, Ayurvedic and herbal workshops, Sacred Plant Medicine Immersions in Ecuador, and plant immersion retreats on the West Coast. My love and studies of herbalism and plant medicine are a pure joy to share, and through these offerings, I create space for the plants to teach us, guiding us back to the heart’s center. I am deeply committed to helping others reconnect to the earth through ceremony, education, and nature’s wisdom.

My passion for Camellia sinensis has led me to offer tea tastings, ceremonies, and an assortment of teas, including Aged Puer, Taiwanese Oolong, and Vietnamese old-growth varieties.

You’ll find stories and insightful blogs covering topics like Herbalism, Ayurveda, Traditional Plant Medicine, Taiwanese & Vietnamese Tea Culture, and Indigenous practices.

Below, you’ll find links to Ojas Naturals, my herbal product business, and our traditional Plant Medicine Immersions in Ecuador.

Meet James

Herbalist, Teacher, Medicine Maker,
& Plant Spirit Medicine Enthusiast

James began his formal herbal studies in 1999 at the California School of Herbal Studies under the guidance of renowned herbalists James Greene and James Snow. After years of traveling extensively across the country, he returned in 2005 to deepen his learning at the California College of Ayurveda in Nevada City.

Soon after, he founded Ojas Naturals, weaving together the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with the practical roots of Western herbalism. His work is inspired by both the wild places of the world and the ones close to home. A seasoned traveler and advocate of leave-no-trace ethics, James has journeyed through forests, mountains, and cultures, always cultivating a deep reverence for the land.

In 2016, James immersed himself in Plant Spirit Medicine with Scott Kloos at the School of Forest Medicine. Sitting with plants in sacred space and in community marked a turning point. It was here that he experienced the quiet power of allowing nature to lead—witnessing profound healing within himself and those around him.

In 2017, James began a personal healing journey with the sacred medicine of the Siekopa’ai (Secoya), an Indigenous people of the northwestern Ecuadorian Amazon. He continues to work closely with the community, returning at least once a year to sit in ceremony, deepen his path with Yagé, and guide small groups seeking authentic connection with this transformative medicine.

In 2025, James spent two months in Taiwan immersing himself in its rich tea culture. With the help of generous locals, he found his way through tea farms, roasters, and hidden shops—forming lasting connections with growers and tea roasters committed to quality and intention. This was his second tea journey, following a 2019 trip to Vietnam where he met a couple tending a tea farm on the border of Yunnan, China, cultivating old-growth tea. These experiences gave birth to Bahji Tea, named in memory of his beloved Toy Aussie, Bahji, who passed in 2023.

When not traveling, James calls Oregon home—drawn by its wild medicine, fresh food, thriving fungi, and spirited community. He can often be found walking among the old-growth forests of the Cascades, respectfully wildcrafting plants and mushrooms, tending his garden, leading herbal meditations and workshops, vending at local gatherings, or enjoying the local music scene.