Meet Dr Nirusa Kumaran, founder and Medical Director of Elemental Health Clinic
Hello, I'm Dr Nirusa Kumaran, founder and Medical Director of Elemental Health Clinic. I'm a practising NHS and Private GP, Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician and Functional Medicine Specialist. I have over 10 years of clinical experience working as a medical doctor in the UK.
I am passionate about holistic, integrative, and patient centred care. Gut health, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Bioenergetics are my areas of special interest.
After facing my own health challenges and my youngest daughter’s health problems with severe eczema and multiple food allergies at the tender age of 5 weeks, I was driven to explore root causes and look for potential ways to reverse and restore optimal health and vitality. This led me to the practice of functional medicine. As such, I have since completed further qualifications as a functional medicine practitioner and founded Elemental Health Clinic – one of few CQC regulated clinics offering precision and personalised medicine.
Utilising the tools of coaching, lifestyle and functional medicine, I myself have been able to overcome burnout/ fatigue, improved an autoimmune condition and digestive issues.
I have many passions outside of my medical career. I am a mum of 2 young girls. I love practising yoga, meditation, dancing and mantra singing.
There’s always a lightbulb moment before the beginning of a new venture. What was that moment for you?
Having completed further qualifications as a functional medicine and lifestyle medicine doctor, I wanted to use that knowledge to be able to help chronic healthcare patients in the most impactful way. When exploring the idea of how to achieve the greatest impact and most optimal health outcomes for patients it became clear that I would need to establish my own clinic as similar services were very limited in the UK. I wanted to support patients leveraging the power of a collaborative multidisciplinary team care approach where highly qualified Functional medicine doctors, Nutritional Therapists and Health Coaches work together to achieve the best possible health outcomes for patients.
How do you prepare for all the unknown obstacles when running your business?
It has been a steep learning curve to establish and run a fully virtual CQC regulated health clinic. My consistent meditation and yoga practices have been instrumental in keeping a higher degree of presence, balanced mind, perspective and strengthening of my mental stamina. I try to keep focussed on what can be done rather than dwelling on the occurrence of an unknown obstacle. I have also benefited from higher performance coaching.
Tell us about your experience prior to launching your business?
Prior to setting up Elemental Health Clinic, I was a frustrated NHS GP on the brink of burn out. I felt frustrated by our NHS GP 10 minute appointment model which meant it was nearly impossible to truly understand the problems my patients were presenting with. Instead I was simply offering medications or short term solutions / sticky plasters without being able to address their root causes for why they were presenting with certain problems. I am whole heartedly passionate about the NHS and acknowledge the immeasurable good that it provides in terms of acute care, however it is unfortunate to say the system is not currently set up to best serve the millions suffering with chronic health problems. The problem is far greater and more complex than we can imagine. We should be looking at integrating evidence based functional medicine as much as possible into primary care in order to focus upon disease remission opposed to symptom suppression which is a sup optimal approach for all involved.
In the future, the hope is that NHS primary care will make the most of the field of evidence based functional medicine as it is focussed upon disease remission and not just symptom suppression.
What inspired you to launch your business and what is the end goal?
The key inspiration was functional medicine. It blew my mind! Studying and learning about this field of medicine has been greatly satisfying as it has shone a light on effective methods currently available to tackle chronic health conditions that were otherwise being dismissed by conventional medicine – my medical school training had led me to believe that autoimmune conditions and allergies were simply a product of misfortune, but I now know there are a plethora of root causes that could potentially have caused or contributed to the onset of those health conditions. Through functional medicine, I was able to heal my youngest daughter’s severe eczema and reverse some of her food allergies.
My focus and mission now is to be able to bring Functional Medicine to the masses in the UK. I want to raise awareness, educate and inspire people to become CEOs of their own health. You are your biggest advocate. There is so much more we can be doing to optimise our health, improve our vitality and longevity beyond what conventional medicine offers.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as an entrepreneur?
Patience is truly a virtue. That with any new venture, it takes time to grow and develop client trust. Since establishing Elemental Health Clinic I have learnt to be more self-compassionate and patient with myself.
Do you have a morning routine or ritual to get your day started on the right foot?
Yes I always start my morning with a yoga practice, breathing exercises and meditation. I set positive intentions for the day with goals that I want to achieve.
How did you conquer those moments of doubt that so often affect entrepreneurs or stop many with great ideas – what pushes you through?
I utilise the tools of coaching that I have learnt on my journey to becoming an entrepreneur. I believe in a growth mindset and I believe I can overcome my fears and anxieties through focus on greater presence, breath work and disconnection of my identity and value from negative thoughts.
What are your responsibilities as a business owner?
I have many responsibilities as a business owner from managing the overall running of the company, finances, CQC regulations, staff management, marketing, social media and more.
What is your day-to-day role with the company?
I am the Medical Director, so I oversee all of the patients under the care of Elemental Health Clinic.
What are your thoughts on failure?
I don’t believe in the concept of failure, especially when discussed in the context of establishing something afresh. Any attempt at trying to build something is a form of success. If it doesn’t work out as expected then I see the process as a learning journey, a period of personal growth.
As a business owner, do you know when to walk away from a sale?
Yes there are many reasons why a patient may not be suitable for our approach from the type of medical condition they have to their willingness to adopt lifestyle and nutritional changes.
If you could be in a room with 4 entrepreneurs, who would they be and why?
Elon Musk - he is an enigmatic controversial figure but undoubtedly one of the most iconic entrepreneurs of his generation. I would be intrigued to discuss his thoughts on how to tackle the climate crisis from the standpoint of revolutionising the food industry, agriculture and humanity’s eating habits.
Dr Mark Hyman – he is a NY bestselling author and founder and medical director of the Ultrawellness center in the US. It would be a privilege to get to speak to him more about Functional medicine and the best way to raise awareness and profile of this field for the benefit of society.
Liz Earle – The work she is doing to promote health and wellbeing is amazing, and I would love to connect with her.
Ella Mills – her personal health journey from illness to now founder of deliciously ella is very inspirational.
Any moments where you thought you’ve bitten off more than you can chew?
Yes many times! I still work as a GP and I am a mum of 2 children under 5. It can feel overwhelming at times.
How did you fund the business in the early stages
Personal savings.
What does your business offer its target audience?
A complete health solution not otherwise available on the NHS.
We can help clients put chronic diseases into remission and assist them to optimise their health for vitality and longevity using holistic approaches.
We offer time to truly understand our patients’ problems and identify the best solutions tailored to their needs, wants and environment.
What social media channel would you say has worked the best for your business and why?
Facebook advertising and group posts. A lot of people from Facebook have seen our ads and signed up for our free masterclasses.
Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey. How are you combating that feeling whilst pushing forward?
I stay connected with my family and friends. I practice positive intentions and gratitude. I believe in myself and the service I am offering and I know that my clinic and team can help transform the lives of so many people struggling with chronic health conditions or wanting to become healthier.
