Let’s talk Cacao

For some bizarre and unknown reason I have recently begun to suffer with painful joints – not just one or two, but ALL my joints from my thumbs and fingers, shoulders, neck and upper back, hips, pelvis, knees and feet – you name it, they’ve been aching, like a rusty gate in the depths of winter!
Having gone through recent blood work to rule out anything unsavoury, I have been wracking my brains trying to work out what it could possibly be. I’ve spoken to various other women who have had babies, and there seems to be a definite trend occurring – a noticeable number of women postpartum appear to go through this phenomenon, which is called postpartum joint pain (original I know!) The cause of this would appear to be related to hormonal changes and to be quite frank it’s a right nuisance!
In my quest to find more natural ways to mange pain and general changes to my system and body I have embarked on a fairly lengthy quest of article reviewing, focussing mainly on finding myself a decent joint supplement to see if this would help – and I think I’ve found one (which I will write about another time).
Along with a decent joint supplement, I have also made the decision to try taking a small amount of ceremonial grade Cacao in my smoothie each morning. For those of you who have been long term subscribers of my newsletter, you will be well aware of my sometimes unconventional ways and I make no apology for it. For several months I have been pondering over how my osteopathic practice and shamanic work can co-habit in harmony, side by side and I now know that this is the gateway!
What is ceremonial grade Cacao? I hear you ask, with wild enthusiasm. You may have seen the phrase ‘Cacaco ceremony’ banded about here there and everywhere and cacao certainly does seem to be a buzz word right now. But why is it that chocolate has suddenly taken centre stage in the healing journeys of so many people?

With many of us now turning to more natural solutions to maintaining good health and wellbeing, it’s no wonder that plant medicines have started to make their way to the front of the line. Cacao ceremony, which originally served as a spiritual ritual for Mesoamerican cultures, is now one of the front runners. Unlike the psychotropic plants, such as ayahuasca, it is generally safe to take cacao and still maintain full ability to function in an everyday capacity. The health benefits, as many research articles are now outlining, are actually quite staggering and need to be paid attention to. Cacao contains flavanols and polyphenols, which have been shown to exert a positive effect on inflammation and also have antioxidant actions. As well as this, there have been studies which show positive effects on cardiovascular diseases.
Another study suggests that perhaps the anti-inflammatory properties of Cacao could be a useful way to reduce the effects of vascular inflammation.
In some cases there has been a positive correlation between the intake of Cacao and certain immune processes.
As well as immune boosting and inflammation lowering properties it is also known that Cacao contains theobromine, a compound that has been shown to increase and improve cognitive function
This all being said, the effects of cacao span beyond just the physical realm. One study showed that 85% or higher dark chocolate had significant effects on gut health and mood enhancement, which will, ergo, have an effect on reducing the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) in the system. To a practitioner like myself, this is of great interest as we often see musculoskeletal problems worsen when patients are clearly suffering emotionally. This paper also outlined the importance in dosage through administration in order to achieve the desired effects.

Even in menopause, Cacao seems to be able to lend a helping hand. Dr Wendy Sweet suggests that in post menopause we need an increased intake of magnesium to help us along with dilating blood vessels that may have lost their elasticity, which happens with the reduced oestrogen levels that occur during the menopause, and maintaining muscle and vascular health. Hormone imbalances often occur when we have increased levels of cortisol in our systems, so again it would appear that Cacao with it’s serotonin and dopamine packed nutrients could play a role in helping lower our cortisol levels. Magnesium and iron (both of which are found in Cacao) also play a key part in hormonal balancing.
And don’t worry – for all you chaps out there who are thinking ‘what about us?’ – the good news is, according to this article, it would appear that men who eat chocolate tend to live longer than those who don’t (and based on the info above it would seem most feasibly better, happier and healthier lives as well)!

So we know that taking as little as 10-20 grams of ceremonial Cacao a day in something like a smoothie can provide us with the nourishing benefits that this incredible plant medicine has to offer, but what about working with her in ceremony?
There is a real issue with mental health these days and more and more people are struggling to keep on top and in control. The fast pace of life and continuous stressors that we are subjected to on a daily basis are a lot to blame for this, but there is also a real disconnect in our society from ourselves and the natural world.
There is an enormous amount of research to be found on this subject, including how ritual can benefit our mental health.

‘Rituals can be anything from your morning routine and family traditions to religious ceremonies.A ritual is “the symbolic behaviors we perform before, during, and after a meaningful event,” and while they may look interesting to onlookers, these routines actually benefit our mental health. Rituals have been apparent throughout history: rain dances, tying shoes the same way before a big game or competition, funerals, religious ceremonies. Rituals aren’t a new thing, but their impacts on mental health are being uncovered more and more as time passes.Rituals offer a structure, regularity, and predictability that we don’t experience often in other areas of our lives. Life is often marked by uncertainty and irregularity, and people are often praised if they can be flexible and think on the fly. So it makes sense that ritual routines can actually ground us when we get caught up in an uncertain world and life.Because rituals give us structure, they have been proven to help us cope with difficult life events, feelings, and situations. “Ritual allows for the recognition of emotional distress in a [social setting] that provides secure boundaries in which to relive and experience emotional pain and suffering.” For example, if a loved one leaves or passes away, creating a ritual to honor them or even to help us get out of bed in the morning has been proven to ease the feelings of loss. People facing situations that induce anxiety typically take comfort in engaging in preparatory activities, inducing a feeling of being back in control and reducing uncertainty. Again, that’s the power of a routine. Whether it means tying your shoes the same way before a race or saying the same mantra before work meetings, rituals have been proven to reduce anxiety of events that are out of our control.’ (Taken from https://www.theflourishingway.org/blog/how-to-create-a-fall-right-asleep-nightly-routine )
It has long been a goal of mine to train as a Cacaoista, to bring Cacao to those who wish to work with her in ceremony but also to those in need of a more practical relationship with her, and the universe has recently provided me with the opportunity to train with a teacher who has been taught by the Mayan Cacaoistas of the Jungles. In the coming months I am hoping that I will be able to become a provider of this beautiful medicine, meaning that those wishing to greet her into their lives can get their Cacao direct from me. There will also be the opportunity to attend Cacao ceremonies which I’m hoping I might be able to go into collaboration with with a couple of fantastic sound healers who I know, if you should feel called to do so. I am also hoping that I may be able to provide special Cacao cups to be purchased either from the Mana Sanctuary space, or at ceremonies – I am hatching a plan around this even as we speak, so watch this space!
Keep an eye out for the next news letter, where I will be outlining some research around the latest up and coming joint supplements (as I am asked about this so often!)