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

Intention

My life's journey has followed many paths, each one deepening my connection to the plants, the land, and the traditional cultures that have cared for them for generations. These experiences have shaped the way I teach and continue to inspire the work I share today.

At the heart of my work are one-on-one Ayurvedic wellness consultations, where I help clients cultivate balance through personalized guidance rooted in the timeless principles of Ayurveda and herbalism. Alongside these consultations, I offer herbal and Ayurvedic education, tea gatherings, plant walks, and herbal garden design. My passion for herbalism is rooted in over twenty-five years of study and practice, yet the greatest teachers have always been the plants themselves. My intention is to create meaningful experiences that help people reconnect with nature, deepen their relationship with traditional plant medicine, and cultivate greater balance and well-being in their lives.

One of the most meaningful expressions of this work is our Sacred Plant Medicine Immersions in Ecuador. These journeys invite participants beyond the classroom and into living traditions, where we learn directly from indigenous healers, medicinal plants, and the rich cultural heritage of the Ecuadorian Andes and Amazon. They are an opportunity to experience traditional plant medicine in its cultural context while cultivating a deeper relationship with the land, its people, and ourselves.

Tea has become an equally important part of my path. Bringing people together over a pot of tea is one of my greatest joys. Through monthly tea gatherings and tastings, I share exceptional teas I've discovered during my travels through Taiwan and Vietnam while creating a welcoming space to connect, learn, and build community one cup at a time.

I also write on Substack, where I share reflections on herbalism, Ayurveda, traditional plant medicine, tea culture, travel, and the wisdom found through spending time with the natural world.

Below you'll find links to Ojas Naturals/Bahji tea, my small-batch herbal apothecary & Tea shop, my Substack, and information about our Sacred 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, where he studied under herbalists James Green and James Snow. After several years of traveling, he returned to California in 2005 to continue his education at the California College of Ayurveda in Nevada City.

Inspired by the wisdom of Ayurveda and the traditions of Western herbalism, James founded Ojas Naturals in 2009. Since then, he has devoted his life to studying medicinal plants, teaching herbal medicine, and helping others cultivate a deeper relationship with nature. His work has always been shaped by time spent outdoors, a love of wild places, and a belief that some of life's greatest lessons come from simply being present.

In 2016, James began studying Plant Spirit Medicine with Scott Kloos at the School of Forest Medicine. This experience deepened his understanding of listening to the plants through presence, observation, and direct relationship, and continues to influence the way he teaches today.

The following year, James was invited to work with the Siekopa'ai (Secoya), an Indigenous people of the northwestern Ecuadorian Amazon. Since then, he has returned regularly to continue learning from the community, participate in ceremony, and support the family in establishing Wiña Botanicals, a small herbal extract business rooted in their traditional plant knowledge. He also guides small, respectful groups seeking to experience traditional plant medicine within its cultural and ecological context.

Tea has become another important thread in James's life. His travels have taken him to the tea mountains of Vietnam and Taiwan, where he has learned directly from tea farmers, family producers, and traditional roasters. In 2025, he spent three and a half months exploring Taiwan's tea regions, deepening his understanding of tea and building relationships with growers and tea makers. These journeys led to the creation of Bahji Tea, a small collection of carefully sourced teas named in memory of his beloved Australian Shepherd, Bahji.

Today, James calls Washington and Oregon home. When he is not traveling, he can often be found walking among the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest, respectfully wildcrafting plants and mushrooms, tending his garden, exploring local farmers markets, or simply spending time outdoors with the places and plants that continue to teach and inspire him.