Do not confuse this with cocoa; this is cacao. Cacao is the unprocessed form of the delicious chocolate (cocoa) products we know and love. Unlike chocolate, cacao is bitter like coffee, because milk and sugar haven't been added. However, before it becomes a delectable food, its a powerful superfood packed with endorphins, polyphenols, and xanthines, etc. Together, these constituents make cacao a nervous system stimulant, heart and kidney tonic, and lip salve. Although chocolate makes a delicious treat, the processing significantly reduces the health benefits of cacao. So, our recommendation is indulge in the cocoa, and heal with the cacao.
History & Folklore
Cacao, especially in the form of chocolate, is a fairly new delicacy of the medicinal and culinary worlds, respectively (at least compared to the medicinal plants that have been utilized for thousands of years). History shows that the Aztecs named the cacao tree "chocoatl", which eventually gave chocolate its name. Later, in 1720, cacao was praised for its effective and versatile uses, ranging from things as simple as providing water to supplying thread and coverings for the home to medicine for their diseases.
Habitat & Cultivation
Cacao is a major commercial resource due to it being processed to make chocolate. In fact, the World Cocoa Foundation reported 3.8 million tons of cacao was cultivated and harvested in 2012. For perspective, one seed will contain around 50 cacao beans, and 400 will weigh roughly ONE pound. The seed pods will be harvested multiple times per year, and are cut directly off the trunk of the cacao tree (that's where they grow). Cacao is native to Mexico and Central America, but is now a major crop throughout tropical climates. The tree itself will grow to be over 25 feet tall with pale brown bark, shiny oblong leaves, and large papaya-shaped seed pods (they hold the cacao beans!).
Uses
Nervous system stimulant
Heart and Kidney Tonic
Other Uses treat angina, make lip salves, prevent tooth decay, aid in weight loss, and a base for suppositories and pessaries
Parts used
Seeds
Key Actions
Reduce blood pressure and cholesterol
Stimulant
Antioxidant
Antitussive
Constituents
High levels of polyphenols
Xanthines
Fixed oil
Small quantities of endorphins
References
- Chevallier, Andrew, FNIMH; Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine - 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments; 3. Edition 2016; ISBN: 978-0-2412-2944-6; Page 276.
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