She’s overcome personal hardship to build two thriving businesses.

Emma Kirke has shown steely resolve to pursue a career as a clinical nutritional therapist under circumstances that might prove too trying for many people.

She battled against the effects of an accident which firstly left her paralysed, depressed and in great pain – which led to weight gain, then anorexia.

Most recently, she was treated for breast cancer which led Emma to have a double mastectomy,

Now she has teamed her work as an osteomyologist treating everything from sprains and strains with running Medicinal Kitchen, a nutrition business providing meal plans and recipes for people with allergies, intolerances and food-related health issues.

She admits that it’s been quite a journey.

Emma, who hails from Hornsea in East Yorkshire, says: “I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was at school.

“I lived in Spain with my family for some time and when I came back I studied biology, chemistry, physics and Spanish at A-level.

“I got a job at Thomas Cook – with no travel qualifications! Although I met interesting people, I knew very quickly that I didn’t want to do it as a career. I got quite bored because it didn’t really challenge me.”

The path to self-employment began when her brother became a professional rugby player. Her father had MS and Emma decided on a career which would help them both.

She went to London and studied osteomyology, a form of alternative medicine used to treat everything from sprains and muscle tears to injuries sustained in work accidents and car crashes.

Returning north from London, Emma decided to make West Yorkshire the focus for her new-found skills rather than the more sparsely-populated east coast.

She now lives in Ossett, but is based four days a week in premises alongside Total Fitness at Wakefield Road, Waterloo. She also works in Leeds, Wakefield and East Yorkshire.

Emma deals with a wide range of injuries. “You might have 20 people with back problems, but they are all different,” she says. “Different lifestyles and different problems can contribute, too.”

The idea for Medicinal Kitchen stemmed from Emma’s own experiences.

“In 2000, I had a car accident when I was at university and sustained permanent spine and nerve damage,” she says. “As a result, I have pain every day.

“In 2005, my spine started to collapse again. I was on crutches, I was depressed and I was comfort eating. I had tried physiotherapy and osteopathy, but the only thing I hadn’t tried to change was what I was eating.”

Emma Kirke of Medicinal Kitchen, Wakefield Road, Waterloo, Huddersfield.

Emma researched her subject – and cut out any food which could cause her pain or irritation. “I was on 25 tablets a day – very strong painkillers.”

By adopting a diet without grains, cow’s milk and processed sugar, she lost seven stone in weight in the space of three to four months. She created her own recipes using ingredients which would help her stay healthy and active.

Now she creates recipes and meal plans for others – to help clients with allergies and food intolerances or to help tackle issues such as long-standing joint problems.

The idea, she says, is to deal with the problem internally through correct diet to complement the physical therapy dealing with the problem “outside”.

Emma’s message has spread far and wide.

She regularly features in food and fitness media, blogs and works in partnership with leading companies including Gold Standard Network.

Her Medicinal Kitchen blog has been named one of the top 15 healthy eating Instagram accounts to follow in the UK by a leading industry blogger.

Manchester-based Pamela Bustard, who writes a health and food blog, Indulging Innocently, under the name SpamellaB, has thousands of followers on Twitter. She ranked Medicinal Kitchen as seventh on her list of 15 – describing Emma as “a true inspiration”.

Since founding Medicinal Kitchen less than two years ago, Emma has provided more than 100 people with bespoke specialised dietary requirement plans to overcome a number of ailments, allergies, intolerances and injuries.

Emma also supports charities State of Mind and Anxiety UK.

She is a lead trustee for fundraising for State of Mind and an author of the leading health book, “Feed Your Mind” produced in partnership with both charities in a bid to raise awareness of mental health issues and support those successfully tackling them through food and fitness.

Emma underwent surgery for breast cancer in February – but in a testament to her belief in health food and fitness was back at work three weeks later and now reckons she’s never been in better shape.

Emma often works a 12-hour day – starting at 8am and finishing at 8pm answering her emails at home.

“The days are long but I absolutely enjoy what I do,” she says. “I’m lucky because I know a lot of people don’t enjoy their jobs.

“I go to the gym – which is in my garage. It has a rowing machine, weights and an exercise bike rather than a car! I get up at 5.30am to prepare meals for the day.

“I probably don’t have the ideal work-life balance because things are a little bit hectic following my last operation for breast cancer.”

Emma and husband Tony share their home with three rescue cats – all Persians with the suitably Persian names of Nuri, Oni and Maiya.

Says Emma: “I’m looking to expand Medicinal Kitchen. I hope to create some recipe books, teach people how to do what I do and continue doing cookery demonstrations.

“We are so reliant on packaged food – when we could be making something better that we would enjoy more.”

Role: Owner

Age: 38

Family: Married to Tony

Car: Audi A3

Holidays: We went to Gambia in January and we vist family in New Zealand. I love Morocco and Thailand

First job: I was 13 and worked for a retailer at Hornsea Pottery

Best thing about the job? The variety. I meet lots of fantastic people and every day is different. No two people or problems are the same

Worst thing about the job? The long hours, which detracts from time with family and friends

Business tip: Communicate and get organised. A lot of businesses let themselves down because they don’t communicate and they are badly organised.

Work: Nutrition business providing

meal plans and recipes

Site: Wakefield Road, Waterloo

Phone: 07971 228857

Email: medicinalkitchen2014@gmail.

Web: www.medicinalkitchen.co.uk