I’ve been expereimenting with cacao, as part of my own spiritual practice, for about eighteen months now, and have found it really benefitical. I am now pleased to begin holding spcace of cacao ceremonies, sharing with others now, and thoght it might be usful to explanin a bit more about what they might involve, what the benefits, and possible contraindications might be, for anyone who is curious to find out more.
What is cacao?
What is a cacao ceremony and what does it involve?
What are the benefits of drinking cacao?
Are there any risks/ contraindications of drinking cacao?
Drinking ceremonial cacao is a bit like drinking a cup of strong coffee, and can have a similar physiological affect. The levels of theobromine in cacao increase your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure. As a result you can feel a little light headed or experience the feeling of heart palpitations. Therefore cacao is not recommended if you have a serious heart condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are prone to anxiety or panic attacks then drinking cacao should be done with awareness and caution.
In addition to these caffeine-like effects, cacao can also have an antidepressant effect. While this may be a benefit for some, those already on MAOI based anti-depressants or SSRI antidepressants
Anti-depressants
There has been some concern with larger doses of cacao and SSRI type anti-depressants, because of the MAOI’s in cacao, specifically, the tryptophan.