James began his formal herbal studies in 1999 at the California School of Herbal Studies under the tutelage of the renowned herbalists James Greene and James Snow. After many years of traveling extensively around the country, James returned to his studies at the California Ayurvedic School in Nevada City.

Shortly after, he founded Ojas Naturals by focusing on creating products that combine the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with Western herbalism. James finds inspiration both at home and abroad, and has taken backpacking trips all over the world while practicing leave-no-trace ethics and cultivating a deep reverence for the land.

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​In 2016 James studied with Scott Kloos at the School of Forest medicine where he was immersed in the world of Plant Spirit medicine. Sitting directly with the plants in a supportive community was a transformative experience. Here James saw so much potential in the power of holding space for the plants to do what they do and to let nature take its course. Through this he witnessed untold amounts of healing within himself and his fellow students. 

In 2017 James embarked on a personal journey of healing through the sacred plants of the Siekopa’ai, a small indigenous group in the northwestern region of the Ecuadorian Amazon. He continually renews his dedication to plant spirit medicine and is working closely with the Siekopa’ai.  James goes down at least once a year, if not more, to bring groups down for healing ceremonies and to further his own work.

When not traveling, James lives in Oregon. Drawn to the area by the abundance of fresh food, potent medicine, and wild people. James can often be found walking in the old-growth forests and alpine areas of the Cascades respectfully wildcrafting plants and mushrooms, playing in his garden, hosting herbal meditations and workshops, or checking out the local music scene.