The Cacao Lab Journal

What is holistic medicine? Holistic medicine has become a widely-accepted practice in preventative medicine and daily self-care rituals, even if it is still regrettably overlooked in many clinical settings. As people advocating for our total wellness, it is our responsibility to look after all aspects of our being. As a community providing allyship, it is our responsibility to look after each other. Holistic wellness is rooted in the idea that there are five aspects underpinning our health: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social. All of these areas form the delicate balance of our wellbeing, and forsaking any one of them...

In part I of our new miniseries entitled Cacao and… we learn how Cacao can affect the body, mind, and spirit when combined with other practices. Here we explore the magic of Cacao and Yoga. These two ancient practices come from very different parts of the world, yet when intentionally paired, can have extremely positive effects.  Yoga Originating in Northern India, Yoga-asana and other yogic practices are thousands of years old, and incredibly popular around the world. Yoga itself is a multi-pronged practice with access points to the physical, mental, emotional, and energetic/subtle bodies. Through the yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances),...

#CacaoEveryDay isn’t trending yet, but perhaps it should be. Cacao is a medicinal plant whose uses have varied throughout the millennia. When discovered and domesticated thousands of years ago, Cacao was used as a currency and a sacred beverage reserved for those of a higher caste. When the Amazonian Basin was colonized, Cacao was domesticated and taken across the world and has since been used an indulgent confection – a far cry from the ritual and community connection it once was. Modern western technology has given us a new perspective on this delicious tropical fruit.   Studies have shown that...

In the first two editions of the “Lab Report”, we learned how certain chemicals in ceremonial cacao help support our energy levels and cardiovascular health. But what about our mood? Much has been made of the emotional elements of cacao consumption–reports of elation and heightened wellbeing abound. What might be the chemical components of these phenomena? Let’s explore cacao’s mental magic in this part III of the Lab Report.   The long journey up top: tryptophan in ceremonial cacao   As we move from the cardiovascular complex to the head, we must detour through the gut. It is here where...