Meet Your Acupuncturists!
Jackie Koenig, L.Ac
L.Ac., MAcOM, Board Certified by NCCAOM and the State of Louisiana
Certified Cupping Therapist by International Cupping Therapy Association
Jackie is a Board-Certified Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist and licensed by the state of Louisiana's Medical Board. She graduated from AOMA School of Integrative Medicine in Austin, TX, where she completed over 3,000 hours of intense didactic and clinical training. After her internships at the VA Medical Center and the renown Chengdu University of TCM's affiliated Hospital in Chengdu, China, she was awarded her Masters of Oriental Medicine (MAcOM). She also completed additional training with the International Cupping Therapy Association.
Jackie regularly volunteers with the NADA NOLA Collective, providing free ear acupuncture (NADA) treatments to the New Orleans community. In fact, the Acu-Detox NADA training, which she completed in 2012 at Maypop Herb Shop, is what sparked her fascination and love for the medicine in the first place! She has also worked with yogis at Wild Lotus Yoga Studio and the clients and staff of the New Orleans Family Justice Center.
Jackie goes above and beyond for her patients and feels honored to be able to share and practice the medicine she loves in the city she has called home since 2011. She is constantly in awe of the often hidden (yet always strong) roots she finds entangled within New Orleans as a community and as a landscape. Jackie is the mother of two boys, whom she welcomed in 2020 and 2022, who keep her very busy when she's not in the clinic.
Jackie Koenig, L.Ac Offers:
Sarah Welch, L.Ac
L.Ac., Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Board Certified by the State of Louisiana
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Sarah is licensed by the state of Louisiana to practice acupuncture and herbal medicine. She holds a doctoral degree in Chinese medicine from AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine, Austin, TX.
Sarah designed her own doctoral curriculum to focus specifically on herbal medicine. She is a diplomat of the TCM Dermatology course with Mazin Al-Khafaji, and she spent a year studying with JulieAnn and Andrew Nugent-Head as part of a post-graduate “residency”. She has spent hundreds of hours at The Alternative Clinic, learning first hand how to write herbal formulas and practice acupuncture in ways that get tangible and noticeable results.
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Sarah works and practices every day to become a better doctor, and this carries into her clinical practice. While herbs and acupuncture can work wonders, she knows that it is equally important to empower patients with knowledge. Sarah takes care to educate her patients and explain medical conditions in common sense ways that everyone can understand. Patients leave Sarah’s office with a better understanding of their own condition, and a clear view of the path forward toward less pain and better health.
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Sarah's herbal practice, Grassroots Herbs, is also housed at Hidden Root Acupuncture! Check out her website for more details on what an herbal consultation is like and how a customized Chinese herbal formula might help you!
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Sarah Welch, L.Ac Offers:
Heidi Pannke, L.Ac
L.Ac., MAcOM, Board Certified by NCCAOM and the State of Louisiana
Heidi's journey into the healing arts began many years ago while sitting with the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. They asked her, "What are you doing to help heal the earth?" It was then that she realized her soul's purpose was to help her fellow humans to heal.
That experience led her to study various Asian healing modalities including Shiatsu, yoga, and tai chi, before getting her masters in acupuncture. She graduated in 2017 from POCA Technical Institute in Portland, OR. She is a Board Certified Acupuncturist and licensed by the state of Louisiana’s Medical Board.
Throughout the years, Heidi has worked with a diverse range of populations. She has supported patients in pain management and recovery programs, pediatric hospice clients, has been an ally for Spanish speaking clients interfacing with medical providers, and worked to help young people experiencing homelessness, mental health and substance use disorders. From working in community acupuncture clinics in Portland to retreat centers in Costa Rica, Heidi's unique experiences have prepared her to offer warm, heart-centered care to everyone she works with.
She considers her style of acupuncture to be gentle and intuitive. Because of her extensive background with bodywork, Heidi will often palpate over the body to feel for areas of blockages to treat. The tools she enjoys using in a session are the fine gauge needles, cups, tuning forks, GuaSha, moxa, e-stim and her hands. Heidi practices a form of deep listening with her clients, allowing for a treatment that is in alignment with the client’s preferences. She considers herself trauma informed and always wants to make sure her clients feel safe and comfortable with the treatment. She especially loves the Master Tung, 5 Element and Shen-Hammer lineages in acupuncture and also speaks fluent Spanish.
Heidi moved from Costa Rica to New Orleans in 2025 and loves our city. Outside of the clinic, she loves making art and incense, playing in the garden, kayaking in the bayous, biking around the city and hanging out with her son.
Heidi Pannke, L.Ac Offers:
Bodywork
I go regularly for cupping and acupuncture, and Jackie brings such light and energy to our sessions. She listens to my concerns and custom tailors each visit. I won’t go anywhere else for acupuncture!
— M.M.