About Elie Cole, Acupuncturist and owner of Nourishing Medicine

Biography of Elie Cole

Elie Cole is a San Diego native, but having lived and studied in Central America, South Asia, and West Africa, she has many homes and families. Elie graduated from a traveling university called Global College, a part of Long Island University.  Never having stepped foot on the New York campus, she earned her Bachelor degree in Social Change while traveling around the world.

Elie became interested in massage therapy in 1998 while living with a family in Costa Rica. She paid a monthly stipend to cover food, but always wished she could contribute more; something from her heart, not her wallet. Her hostess, Mama Marta, had an aching back from working hard without the convenience of modern appliances. Mama Marta nurtured everyone, but no one nurtured her.  One night Elie massaged Mama Marta’s aching back and her tight muscles melted under Elie’s hands. This marked the beginning of Elie’s journey toward holistic healing.

Inspired by Mama Marta, Elie began her studies in massage therapy in 1999 at the International Professional School of Bodywork in San Diego. She owned Heal Thyself Massage Therapy, a successful massage practice, while studying Chinese medicine at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego before transferring to Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, Oregon.  Elie earned a Masters of Science of Traditional Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2007 and is now the owner of Nourishing Medicine.

Listen to radio interviews with Elie Cole in June 2009 and February 2009