Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the more common questions that we are asked by people considering studying with Naturecure Academy, or when deciding which microscope to buy. Click a question to navigate to the relevant answer.

If you have any further questions or would like more information about any of the topics discussed below, please click here to get in touch.

 
 
 

What is Live & Dry Blood Analysis (LDBA)?

Live & Dry Blood Analysis is a holistic health assessment tool that enables practitioners to investigate a client’s health by looking at the various indications that can be seen in their blood. This test is conducted in the practitioner’s own clinic during an appointment with the client, and the results are immediate.

Live Blood Analysis involves looking at a fresh drop of the client’s blood magnified 1000 times under a darkfield microscope, allowing the practitioner to assess the individual cells of the blood, as well as the plasma that surrounds them.

In Dry Blood Analysis, a drop of blood is exposed to the air and starts to clot. As this happens, characteristic patterns can be seen under a microscope that can verify various health issues.

Can LDBA be used to diagnose disease?

Only qualified doctors can diagnose disease. Blood tests generally are only a screening process to pickup various imbalances that can be detected through the blood. This also applies to Live & Dry Blood Analysis.

Is LDBA based on scientific research?

Yes. LDBA was pioneered by scientists in the 18th & 19th Centuries such as Antoine Bechamp and Claude Bernard, and has continued to be developed ever since. In parts of Europe it is used extensively by integrative medical practitioners.

Why should I choose to study with Naturecure Academy over other training providers?

  1. Naturecure Academy are the only LDBA training provider in the world, who have had their course independently verified by a highly reputable third-party insurance provider (Balens), to ensure it meets a very high standard of ethics, has a professional code of practice and is taught by suitably experienced personnel.

    As part of these requirements, we must ensure that all our students already have a reputable health practitioner qualification to be able to become competent analysts - unlike other schools we do not just admit anyone onto our course. We also must test the competency of our students by requiring 3 case studies completed to a high standard. This again sets the bar much higher than most of our competitors.

    This external validation means that we are the only school offering competency certification for our course, which can be used by qualified students to gain professional insurance cover. Students can enrol with Naturecure Academy confident that they will receive the best LDBA training available in the world.

    Although we are also accredited by the Complementary Medical Association, this is a less formal process and so offers less of a guarantee of educational standards.

    All of the above points are why we often welcome students onto our course who have previously trained with other online LBA schools but have been left frustrated or lacking in confidence in skills gained with those training providers.

  2. Our course was created and is taught by Shirah Mustardé, who has been analysing blood since 2011 and teaching students for many years. As one of the most experienced Live Blood Analysts in the world, Shirah offers a wealth of knowledge and experience that is invaluable to our students.

    Unlike some competitor organisations who are simply front ‘agents’ for a training provider elsewhere, our students have direct access to and mentoring support from our Course Director.

  3. Our course is uniquely designed to be as flexible as possible for our students. They can start whenever they like (rather than having to wait for the next intake of students months later), and can progress through the course at their own pace. While we advise students to try to complete the course in 12 months, we do not place a time restraint on students completing the qualification, and our training content is available to students in perpetuity.

  4. Written in 2019 and periodically updated, our course represents the most up to date training available, and is based on the latest science.

How much is your training / do you offer a payment plan?

The cost of enrolling on our Online Live & Dry Blood Analysis Training is £699 per student.

This includes unlimited access to over 12 hours of video lessons and demonstrations on the online portal, a set of printed manuals and reference laminates to accompany the course, and professional certification (subject to completion of the final 3 case studies to the required standard).

The training is fully supported by our college tutors by email, phone and video chat if required.

Please Note: We are unfortunately unable to offer a payment plan at this stage.

Do I need any prior training before taking one of your courses?

Our course is open to anyone who has studied a medical or complementary/alternative health modality that includes an understanding of anatomy, physiology and nutrition.

Live & Dry Blood Analysis is considered an add-on health screening tool for use by complimentary health practitioners and medical staff. As such, in order to use the skills learnt on our course, you need to be able to work professionally with clients/patients, offering diet and lifestyle advice and to prescribe supplements or other interventions legally.

We also accept those that are currently studying these subjects but have not completed their course yet. Studying LDBA alongside other courses is actually a great way of doing it, however for legal reasons we are unable to issue a student’s Certificate of Competency until the primary qualification has been completed.

To find out if your qualifications are suitable for our course, please get in touch.

Please Note: Due to the technical nature of the subject matter being taught, students must also be proficient in the use of the English language. 

What if I don’t have a suitable qualification?

If you do not yet have a relevant qualification and are just starting out, then we would recommend you enrolling in a professional nutrition-based qualification. We can offer advice about choosing the right training and are happy to give feedback about the suitability of a particular course. Once you have started that course, you will be eligible to enrol on our course.

See below for a suggestion of the type of training that would be suitable (please make sure to check that the qualification is acceptable for working with the public in your country/state. The following are only suggestions based on content, not certification)*:

AFPA (US) - Holistic Nutritionist Certification

Online course. Accredited and certified, internationally recognised. 

A good quality professional course with a very reasonable price. $899 (approx) US Dollars 

https://store.afpafitness.com/holistic-nutritionist-certification/

I do have a suitable qualification but lack nutritional knowledge

Having a solid understanding of basic nutrition is essential in understanding course material and using the knowledge and skills gained. Some practitioners may want to improve on their nutritional knowledge, and a short nutrition foundation course is recommended.

Below is an example of a suitable nutrition foundation course*:

College of Functional Wellness - Nutrition for Health Course

Online course. Accredited by the Federation of Holistic Therapists

90 hours worth of home study and homework £350/$440 (approx)

https://www.functional-wellness.co.uk/a/2147489432/LSFFsCkb

*The above links are affiliate links where we may receive a small commission for our recommendation

Is the course suitable for non English-speaking students?

Unfortunately, due to the technical nature of the subject matter being taught, students must be proficient in the use of the English language.

Do I need insurance?

During your training, in order to take blood from other people and analyse it, you will require Student Malpractice & Indemnity Insurance that covers Blood Microscopy. When students have completed their final case studies to the required standard and have received their Certificate of Competency, they will require full practitioner insurance to start practicing LDBA professionally.

Students undertaking the Online Course will need to arrange student insurance in their country of residence before practising on other people. We advise talking to your current indemnity insurance provider.

The Complementary Medical Association offers indemnity insurance as part of their practitioner membership benefits.

The International Institute for Complementary Therapists offers insurance cover worldwide through their membership scheme - https://www.iictinsurance.com/#welcome

Please note: The legal requirements to practice may differ between countries and states, so you must check the local laws and regulations in the area in which you wish to practice. Naturecure Academy Ltd cannot provide advice on the legality of practicing Live Blood Analysis outside the UK.

How long will it take to complete my training?

The Online Course will take a minimum of 25-30 hours to complete, not including the three case studies required as final homework after the training has been completed. The course includes 12 hours of video lectures and practical demonstrations, a pre-reading module, and quite a few exercises to enable you to build confidence in the various techniques required.

We recommend repeating some of the practical training sections and possibly some of the more technical theory lessons in order to ensure you have a sound grasp of everything taught. Students will continue to have access to the online lessons after their training is complete.

Please Note: Although there is no time restriction on the length of time taken to complete the training, students are encouraged to complete the require case study homework within 12 months.

What support is available during my training?

At Naturecure Academy we pride ourselves in ensuring that students of our courses are given all the support they need to complete our training and start developing their LDBA careers.

Students can contact Shirah the Course Director by email or telephone, and are also encouraged to post any questions that they have in our private Facebook Group ‘Learning Live Blood Analysis’. This is a supportive community of students past and present, as well as our college tutors and other experienced analysts all keen to offer advice.

What if I feel I need more training after completing a course?

We offer 1-to-1 training in person in the UK or by Skype for our international students, for those who have particular issues that they would like help with.

Our course tutors are also available during and after the course to give advice and answer any questions students might have. We also encourage students to join our Facebook Group ‘Learning Live Blood Analysis’ in order to continue their learning journey after their training.

From time to time we will be offering webinars and workshops for continued development.

If I complete a course can I start seeing clients?

When students have completed their final case studies to the required standard and have received their Certificate of Competency, they should then seek practitioner insurance for blood microscopy in order to start practicing professionally. Usually LDBA is considered an add-on modality that requires other complementary health practitioner insurance.

Please note: The legal requirements to practice LDBA may differ between countries and states, so check the local laws and regulations in the area in which you wish to practice.

Are your courses accredited?

Yes, Naturecure Academy is accredited by the Complementary Medical Association

Can I connect with other Live Blood Analysts?

Yes of course - we are very proud of the supportive community of analysts that we are helping to create. Our Facebook Group ‘Learning Live Blood Analysis’ is available to anyone, and we also have a private group for students only which is a great place to connect with other students and analysts.

Do I need my own microscope to do the training?

Students undertaking the Online Training can complete the course lessons before deciding to invest in a microscope but of course will be limited in the amount of practical exercises they can do without the equipment. Ideally you would have access to a microscope by the time you reach the fifth section of the course, entitled ‘Using Your Microscope’.

How much do microscopes cost?

Live Blood Analysis requires a special type of microscope called a darkfield microscope. These can cost anywhere from £800 to £10,000, however this represents a wide range in quality and level of features.

We have sourced several darkfield microscope packages that we are happy to recommend as they represent the ideal balance of quality, features and most importantly price. You can learn all about the type of microscope needed for Live Blood Analysis, and review our recommended packages here.

Does my microscope have to be one of the ones you recommend?

No it doesn’t. There are a number of other darkfield microscopes available, although our experience is that they are either cheaper but inferior in a number of significant ways when used by a professional analyst, or far more expensive but not offering many important benefits over the models we suggest.

We recommended several options because they offer the best balance of cost and functionality for Live & Dry Blood Analysis. However, we are happy for students to use different brands, but are limited in the amount of technical support that we can offer for other devices as they can differ significantly.