{"id":6253,"date":"2022-01-23T15:50:14","date_gmt":"2022-01-23T15:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=herb&p=6253"},"modified":"2025-04-09T16:46:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T15:46:41","slug":"cacao","status":"publish","type":"herb","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/herb\/cacao\/","title":{"rendered":"Cacao"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":6256,"parent":0,"menu_order":-230,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"47224","beyondwords_content_id":"6812e0b9-825f-4735-af87-f92bcb46fdc2","beyondwords_preview_token":"d7cc13d8-af7b-44e2-945d-617f112f78cc","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"tags":[615,238,619,620,103,208,58,189,179,249,49],"conditions":[701,694,699,698],"sustainability":[1576],"sense":[18],"western_action":[1008,992,994,999,1001,1012,1020,1024],"chinese_action":[],"ayurvedic_action":[],"energetics_action":[1498,1494,1492,1380],"region":[1893],"class_list":["post-6253","herb","type-herb","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-adaptogen","tag-adaptogens","tag-cacao","tag-chocolate","tag-cough","tag-immunity","tag-inflammation","tag-libido","tag-nervous","tag-relax","tag-stress","conditions-immune-system","conditions-cardiovascular-system","conditions-musculoskeletal-system","conditions-reproductive-system","sustainability-green-sustainability-status","sense-bitter","western_action-diuretic","western_action-anti-inflammatory","western_action-antioxidant","western_action-aphrodisiac","western_action-bitter","western_action-galactagogue","western_action-stimulant","western_action-vasodilator","energetics_action-bitter","energetics_action-sweet","energetics_action-toning","energetics_action-warm","region-western-herbs"],"acf":{"last_reviewed":"20220123","herb_author":null,"banner_text":"Cacao is a great \"heart opening\" alternative to coffee","latin_name":"Theobroma cacao<\/em>","pseudonym_name":"","family_name":"Malvaceae","herb_summary":"This plant is well-known as a confectionery, but has been valued as a medicine and food for thousands of years. Cacao is a rich medicine used for its effects upon the nervous system and in cardiovascular health.","key_benefits":"Stimulating\r\nElevates Mood\r\nCardiotonic\r\nCognition enhancing\r\nNutritive","how_does_it_feel":"If you have ever tasted cocoa powder or nibs, you will know that they are bitter. The tincture has a smell of chocolate with a bittersweet, rich and earthy taste.","hdif_image_1":6259,"hdif_image_2":6257,"hdif_image_3":6258,"hdif_video":"","sense":[17,18,27],"what_can_i_use_it_for":"Cacao is a common food item, and can be found in many forms, raw or processed. It can be consumed this way as a nutritive plant, containing plenty of minerals and antioxidants.\r\n\r\nIt is best to consume it as dark chocolate or as a powder or nibs to get the most nutritional benefit.\r\n\r\nCacao may also be used to elevate mood and energy levels. It contains theobromine and small amounts of caffeine, which are both stimulants to the nervous system.\r\n\r\nIt also has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, and may support libido.","into_the_heart_of":"\"\"\r\n\r\nCacao has long been used as a food and medicine by the people of Mesoamerica, with archaeological research finding evidence of use as far back as 1000 BCE.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAs a native medicine of south America, cacao was traditionally used in sacred practice during ceremony. A Traditionally a deep decoction was made using a paste from the pure cacao nibs, mixed with water. Used in this way in a potent measured dose, cacao is believed to be able to work on the energetic heart, allowing one to access a deep state of transcendence. Whilst Cacao isn\u2019t a psychedelic, it is well understood for its actions upon the mind as a gentle psychoactive and nervine medicine. In ceremony, Cacao has an incredible ability to allow one to enter a meditative space.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nCacao ceremonies have risen in popularity, Many who hold cacao ceremonies follow the traditions of its native land, guiding the use of this gentle yet powerful medicine with honour to its cultural understanding.<\/span>\r\n\r\nSome evidence suggests that it is this positive cultural association with chocolate that is responsible for the elevation of mood, while others are investigating the possible biochemical explanations.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOne of the psychoactive compounds in cacao that is thought to be responsible for some of its psyco-spiritual effects is theobromine, as well as the well known cannabinoid- anandamide \u2018the bliss molecule\u2019<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>The word theobromine<\/span> derives<\/span><\/i> from its botanical name Theobroma cacao, which translates as 'food of the Gods\u2019. Theobromine is a bitter alkaloid which has been shown to be mildly stimulating as well as mood enhancing. It is also thought to be part of the mechanism of cacao medicine for improving one's memory and focus.<\/span>\r\n\r\nCacao also increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. With the combined psychoactive actions of anandamide and theobromine to uplift and enhance one\u2019s state of mine, cacao is also thought to inducing the further induce the release of endorphins and dopamine, our \u2018feel-good\u2019 hormones. All of these mechanisms contribute to the enhancing actions of cacao - those that may lead us to exist in a peak state.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOne of the mechanisms by which cacao may be understood to have a heart opening effect is by an additional action of theobromine to increase dilation in the blood vessels. This action pays particular attention to the microcirculation of the heart itself. Often the \u2018energetic\u2019 uses of herbs can be grasped through the holistic understanding of their pharmacological actions.<\/span>","tradtional_uses":"\"\"The Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec, Toltec and Aztec claimed both nutritional and medicinal benefit from cacao prepared as a beverage. The tree was reportedly used as a source of materials for various objects that were central to daily life.\r\n\r\nThe Florentine Codex lists over 100 medicinal uses for cocoa. Some of these uses were as a more palatable delivery mechanism for other medicines, and others are with cacao as a main medicinal agent. These remedies are for the spitting-up of blood, stomach complaints, bringing down milk in new mothers, fever, shortness of breath, and more.\r\n\r\nIn Central America, the seed has been used as a heart and kidney tonic, and to treat the pains of childbirth, fevers and coughs.\r\n\r\nCacao was brought to the Old World in the 16th century, where it was also toted for its medicinal qualities. Eventually, milk was added to the drink to make it more palatable, which led to its commonly known form of confectionery.","what_practioners_say":"\"\"<\/strong>\r\n

Nervous system<\/h3>\r\nChocolate is well known for bringing good feelings to those who consume it, just look at how often it is given as a gift on special occasions! Cacao is stimulating to the <\/span>nervous system<\/span> as it contains both caffeine and theobromine.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe caffeine is contained in small amounts, and theobromine is considered a mild stimulant by comparison, so the stimulation that cacao offers is generally considered low. Additionally, many people have positive memories associated with its familiar taste and aroma, and there is ongoing research into the mechanisms of how it improves mood. Thus, cacao can be a fantastic herb to gently elevate mood and energy.<\/span>\r\n\r\nCacao is an excellent medicine to use to support memory and focus. This works through a combined effect of its cardiovascular actions through improving the microcirculation in the brain whilst also exerting its effects on brain chemistry to positively enhance overall condition.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

Cardiovascular system<\/h3>\r\nWhile stimulating the overall nervous system, cacao also has an effect on the<\/span> cardiovascular system<\/span>. It is used in ceremonial settings as a medicine for the spiritual heart. The chemistry of the bean has been shown to be protective of the cardiovascular system, and the consumption of cocoa is linked to healthy cardiovascular parameters.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nAlthough perhaps not a primary cardiovascular remedy, cacao is helpful as part of a formula for the cardiovascular system. Cacao has been shown to have beneficial effects on platelet function, arterial stiffness and endothelial function (the endothelium is a thin membrane that lines the inside of the heart and blood vessels) (11, 12). There is also good reference to cacao having benefit to those with hypertension (13).<\/span>\r\n\r\nHowever, its stimulating effects and contraindications need to be taken into account when considering including it in a remedy.<\/span>\r\n

Integumentary system (skin)<\/h3>\r\nCocoa butter is a wonderful ingredient as it is very gentle and is a solid fat at room temperature. It also smells very pleasant. This is a perfect vehicle for adding infused oils and making pessaries, suppositories, creams, and thick body butters. All dry skin and mucous membranes can benefit.<\/span>","research":"\"\"The cardiovascular benefits of the polyphenols found in cacao have been well researched. They have been shown to promote the body\u2019s synthesis of nitric oxide, which promotes vasodilation and thus reduces blood pressure. Nitric oxide prevents leukocyte adhesion, smooth muscle proliferation and platelet aggregation and adhesion. If there is a deficiency in nitric oxide, the risk of atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and hypertension increases. A meta-analysis of clinical trials found that chocolate and cocoa ingestion increased vasodilation, lowered blood pressure, and reduced serum insulin levels.\r\n\r\nA meta-analysis concluded that short-term consumption of dark chocolate lowered LDL cholesterol. In several studies, however, chocolate consumption has had no effect on lipid profiles, or has increased HDL cholesterol.\r\n\r\nCocoa increases cerebral blood flow through these same mechanisms. The phenolic compounds have also been observed to activate cascade pathways that play a role in synaptic function, neuronal growth, memory, and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Cacao also contains N-acylethanolamines which act as cannabinoid mimics, and increase anandamide levels. This may be one of the ways it is responsible for improving mood and sexual arousal. However, some studies have determined that the effect on mood is due to the taste, rather than the chemical constituents.\r\n\r\nThe antioxidant activity of chocolate is of interest for its potential anti-carcinogenic effects. In vitro and animal studies have demonstrated reduced tumour size and increased chemosensitisation. The antioxidant activity may also contribute to protective benefits for the skin. One study determined that high flavanol chocolate decreased UV-induced erythema (sunburn).","did_you_know":"Theobroma means \u201cFood of the Gods\u201d.","additional_information_right":{"illustration":8368},"additional_information_left":{"botany":"The cocoa tree is an evergreen that grows up to 8m (26ft) tall. It has pale brown bark, and a taproot. The tree has dark green leaves that are glossy and oval shaped, up to 35cm long and 8 cm wide. The surface of the leaves is either hairless or covered in scattered star- shaped hairs. The small flowers are yellowish white to pale pink, are grouped together in clusters and arise directly from the trunk. They are produced throughout the year. The flowers are pollinated by midges in the wild. The flowers, after pollination, develop into massive fruits. These are large, pear-shaped, red-yellow seed pods up to 25cm long. It contains up to 50 seeds that are surrounded by a white pulp. These seed pods are harvested multiple times per year. The seed, husk, and oil are all used.<\/span>","common_names":"