Patricia Seki DAc, LAc
Doctor of Acupuncture | Chinese Herbalist | NCCAOM Dipl. AcI knew I wanted to be a doctor from a very young age—I have vivid memories of myself as a toddler, dressed in a little blue dress with a big fluffy wig, oversized glasses, and a tiny doctor’s bag I carried everywhere. Born and raised in Wisconsin, I’ve lived along the West Coast, but my heart belongs to Hawai‘i, where I felt an immediate connection to the islands and their people.
My fascination with the body’s natural ability to heal, and a desire to help people feel balanced and whole, led me to acupuncture and Eastern medicine. I began my training in 1999 at the Midwest Center for Oriental Medicine in Racine, WI, and interned at Guangdong Traditional Medical Hospital and Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China, where I formed meaningful connections with locals and learned firsthand how acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine restore balance. I earned both my Master’s and Doctorate in Acupuncture, along with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Certification from Bastyr University. My background in massage, medical esthetics, and colon hydrotherapy informs my integrative, whole-body approach.
I have a deep personal connection to women’s health—being born premature, having two premature children, and navigating perimenopause and reproductive transitions. These experiences shape how I hold space for patients, and I have witnessed how acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and integrative therapies support Qi and Blood flow, harmonize organ systems, and improve focus, memory, mood, and pain management.
I also offer microneedling as part of my integrative approach, supporting collagen and elastin production while promoting the smooth flow of Qi and Blood through the meridians. It can aid recovery from childbirth, surgical scars, stretch marks, pigment changes, and hair loss related to hormonal transitions—helping restore balance and vitality inside and out.
As an integrative practitioner, I treat a range of health concerns—including women’s health, pain, mental health, dermatologic issues, and digestive health. My approach is compassionate, patient-centered, and grounded in warmth and lightheartedness. I’m often told my laugh is contagious, and I love creating a supportive, uplifting environment that helps patients feel seen, empowered, and cared for. I look forward to supporting your journey toward balance, vitality, and wellness at every stage of life.
Elysha Zamora DAOM, L.Ac
Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese MedicineI am a Florida native, but I’ve been living in Seattle for 14 years. I obtained a business degree in New York and worked in marketing for a brief time before being introduced to acupuncture and East Asian medicine. My neighbor in the city was having health problems and raved about the results they were getting with acupuncture. This was back in 2006 and I had never heard of acupuncture before. I began researching acupuncture and East Asian medicine and realized it resonated with me. I grew up the daughter of a physician, have always had an interest in medicine, and was even pre-med my first few years of school. I decided to investigate schools and found an excellent one in Sarasota, Fl, my hometown. This seemed meant to be! I went to study there and haven’t looked back.
My experience ranges from private practice to owning my own community acupuncture clinic. During the pandemic, I had to close my clinic. I have 2 beautiful boys, who were in kindergarten and second grade at the time and were suddenly home fulltime and needed to be homeschooled. I decided to use the time to homeschool and pursue my doctoral degree, something I wanted to do for years, with a focus on integrative medicine. I also continued running another business that I own. Fun fact, I co-own a car audio business and truly enjoy managing that as well!
My interest in women’s health began rather selfishly. As I grow older, I have found a huge lack of support for women transitioning from the childbearing ages to perimenopause and menopause. I have had great success with herbal medicine and acupuncture in regulating my own cycles and moods and I want to be able to offer this to as many people as possible. We truly do not need to suffer. I believe we, as acupuncturists and herbalists, have the tools to make a difference,
I feel so excited to be here, in this wonderful community of women supporting women. I also am comfortable and happy treating all genders and people. I look forward to connecting with all the special patients at Ballard Acupuncture Center. It is a privilege to be here.
Avigail Cohen LAc, Dipl OM, FABORM
Licensed Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist, Clinic DirectorI have always loved to travel. With 3 passports and family all over the world, I spent many summers as a child visiting my grandparents in England and Israel. I had the opportunity to live abroad for several months in high school and college but really took advantage of my travel bug after college when I lived abroad, worked, and traveled for 4 years. I was seeking to learn as much as I could about many different diverse cultures, but also about their unique and alternative healing practices. I was fascinated by how many of these healing practices looked at the root of the issue and not just a 1 size fix for everyone. I was a sponge taking in as much as I could. I studied massage therapy in Tel-Aviv Israel, participated in a Reiki course in Katmandu, Nepal, took a Thai massage course in Chang Mai, Thailand and lived at a yoga ashram meditating and doing yoga several times a day in Rishikesh, India. When I traveled to China, I wanted to experience acupuncture firsthand and to learn more about their culture and their medicine. At that time, I was already thinking about going to acupuncture school. In 2000, I moved back to the United States from Amsterdam, The Netherlands to begin my acupuncture studies at the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine here in Seattle.
I became interested in Women’s Health, pregnancy, and postpartum care when I was pregnant with my first child in my final year of acupuncture school. I was living and breathing acupuncture at the time, but I was also immensely enjoying my pregnancy. I was amazed that my body knew what to do and how much acupuncture and Chinese herbs helped me during this time. Acupuncture helped me sleep, deal with stress, manage my changing body’s aches & pains and helped my body prepare for labor.
These days, I'm experiencing a new phase in my life. My children are transitioning from teens to young adults, and I'm moving through perimenopause. Now I can relate to a new phase of a woman's life, and I'm continuing to devote my personal and professional experience to supporting, empowering, and serving as a resource for them. I want to create community for women as they are going through the different transitions of their lives.
Heather Nicewonger
Office ManagerBorn on the East Coast and raised across the U.S., I've called Seattle home for over 15 years after moving here for college. I earned my BFA in Visual Communication from Cornish College of the Arts and have spent the past 12 years working in administration, instructional design and visual design.
With a passion for natural medicine and holistic wellness, I'm grateful to support a practice dedicated to helping patients feel their best. As Office Manager, I focus on creating a welcoming and smoothly run environment so both patients and practitioners can have the best possible experience.
Outside of work, I enjoy gardening, painting, building projects and hanging out with my husband and cat.
