IS Cacao Safe?
For most people, cacao is very safe! However, there are some specific contraindications.
Cacao is essentially a very pure, unrefined form of what is better known as chocolate.
In the west, until recently it was only known in a very industrially processed form. but over the last couple of decades, westerners have begun to discover what the Maya have known for millennia…In most cases, cacao is not only safe but wonderfully beneficial for health.
Cacao as a medicine
As a plant medicine, cacao is comparatively gentle and loving, but a medicine all the same, so it’s good to start off with a small dose to measure tolerance to it.
It is important use cacao in a sacred, held space, with a trained, experienced cacao practitioner: when we come to the medicine with a specific intention, and with respect for & awareness of the power of the plant to affect us, we create the best circumstances in which to get we what we need from the experience in the most beneficial way.
Cacao itself has properties which some may be sensitive to, and the ceremonial context itself can also be impactful, so the main safety concerns are usually a matter of checking if you are on any medication, or if there are specific sensitivities or other health issues which make it inadvisable to consume cacao in this form, and in this setting.
If it is your first cacao experience, different sized bodies, different metabolic rates, different sensitivities and constitutions mean there’s no single “correct” dosage although we do recommend starting doses and a guide. Huge servings are not necessary to experience the inner journey and the energy of the cacao, nor the emotional release.
It is important to respect the more subtle but still very profound power of cacao’s medicine – Cocao is not for everyone, but will be fine for most people.
It’s often said that cacao will open up a doorway but won’t push you through – you will still be fully in control of yourself in the journey. Cacao is mildly psychoactive, in that it contains compounds which cross the blood-brain barrier and affect your mood – but cacao is NOT a psychedelic. This medicine contains a lot of serotonin-boosters, which is why you need to be careful if you’re on any medication which also works on the serotonin levels in your system.
Cacao is also a stimulant, containing a unique combination of caffeine (which stimulates the nervous system) and theobromine (which stimulates the heart); most people find it much gentler than coffee but still good to go gently your first time.
Health factors to be aware of
* if you are on antidepressants, SSRIs or other medication, have a heart condition or are pregnant: Be aware that the theobromine in cacao is a vasodilator: it increases the heart rate and lowers blood pressure. Cacao in the concentrated doses we consume in ceremony therefore increases blood flow to the brain & heart by at least 40% so you may be better off with a smaller dose. I usually offer a half-dose to people on SSRIs. Please see below for more info…and contact me if in doubt.
* if you are taking 5-htp (5-Hydroxytryptophan) it’s advisable to have a smaller dose of cacao.
* If you are taking St John’s Wort, please refrain from taking it for a few days before & after the cacao circle.
* If you are on MAOI antidepressants, cacao (& all forms of chocolate) is contraindicated because it contains tyramine.
*If you take antipsychotic medication, (for any reason), consuming ceremonial cacao in this way is also contraindicated. (And if being treated for psychosis, I also don’t feel it’s wise to engage in practices which involve exploring how to tune into and hear an inner voice, the voice of a plant spirit or other guide.)
* if you have low blood pressure, be aware that although cacao is a stimulant, it lowers blood pressure. Depending on your condition, a smaller dose might be appropriate – in some cases it may be contraindicated eg if you have had epileptic fits triggered by low blood pressure (bear in mind that the whole ritualised experience of lying down & being guided on a nidra & deeply introspective journey is also likely to lower your blood pressure even without the cacao!). Please contact me if you want to ask more.
* some people are allergic or sensitive to theobromine – it can trigger headaches or migraines in some people. (You will probably already know if this is you.) In some cases, a smaller dose will be fine depending on how sensitive you are.
* if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, be aware that theobromine is a stimulant & increases heart rate & lowers blood pressure. Some western people advise avoiding it completely during pregnancy, others suggest a smaller dose (I can discuss this with you). However, I think it’s also worth noting that for thousands of years, indigenous Mayan women have consumed cacao safely throughout pregnancy and even during childbirth (in the final stages of labour, to assist with the final big push!), as well as afterwards – in their culture, midwives know that cacao is such a nourishing, energising food that it gives women great strength. So if you are pregnant or breastfeeding this does not rule cacao out for you – I simply present this information so that you can make your own informed decision, and if you are new to cacao especially, I would certainly serve you a smaller dose so you can see how you respond. Cacao contains roughly a tenth of the caffeine found in coffee so depending on your stance on coffee during pregnancy you may be ok with the smaller dose of cacao. Similarly, some people prefer to avoid all sources of theobromine & caffeine while they are breastfeeding.
* if you are epileptic: high consumption of cacao stimulates the brain and there is also scientific research to suggest a possible connection between caffeine & cacao consumption and increased seizures. Scientific research / evidence is still inconclusive, but I would err on the side of caution if you have a history of epilepsy. It is also important for the sake of other participants that we create a safe environment where there is little risk of disruption.
* if you are sensitive to caffeine, it can affect your sleep – though cacao contains far less than coffee – about a tenth of the amount. People often find they actually sleep really well and dream vividly after consuming ceremonial cacao.
The ceremonial-grade cacao liqour/paste we share in the medicine ceremony is very different from, and more pure & potent than, the raw cacao powder you might use to make raw chocolate, a superfood tonic or smoothies (although ceremonial grade cacao can also be used for all these things). It is far less processed: ceremonial cacao licqour is not heat-treated & retains the cacao butter as well as the cacao powder (cacao solids). You can read more about what constitutes “ceremonial grade” cacao here.
