Cacao is more than just a delicious treat; it’s a powerful and sacred plant medicine that can enhance mental clarity, boost your emotional well-being, and reveal deeper insights and spiritual connections. Whether you’re sipping it solo during meditation or sharing it with a group for ceremony, understanding the right cacao dose is essential.
In this article, we will explore cacao dosages, their purpose, and help you make informed choices whether you’re sitting alone or hosting a gathering.
Personal Daily Dose for Meditation, Yoga, Connection and Journaling
If you want to enhance your personal practices like meditation, yoga, or journaling, a dose of 15-25g of cacao is a good palce to start.
Cacao helps open the heart and mind, making it perfect for introspective activities. At this dosage you can start ot cultivate your direct realtionship with the spirit of Mama Cacao for guidance and insights.
Picture yourself enjoying a warm cup of rich Cacao while reflecting on your thoughts or practicing a calming pose. This amount can boost your mood, sharpen your mind, and enrich your experience, creating a supportive atmosphere for growth.
Let’s examine why this specific range works effectively.
The Benefits of a Personal Daily Dose
Consuming cacao for personal use gives you access to its numerous benefits. It contains theobromine, a natural stimulant that helps improve focus while keeping you relaxed. This unique balance is helpful during activities that require both concentration and calm.
Moreover, cacao stimulates the production of serotonin and endorphins, the so-called “feel-good” chemicals in our brains. According to studies, even a small daily dose of 15-25g can elevate your mood by up to 30%. This amount provides a boost while ensuring you don’t feel overwhelmed, making it the ideal choice for personal reflection and growth.
Ceremonial Doses: The Heart of Group Experiences
Cacao ceremonies call for a different approach to dosing since the group dynamic influences the biofield and individual experiences.
For One-2-One Sessions
During one-on-one sessions with a facilitator, a dose between 25g - 42g is ideal.
This range allows for a more intimate experience, enabling a deeper connection to the medicine. At the higher end of this scale—42g— individuals may experience intensified emotions, promoting deeper exploration of their pysche and emotions.
A participant could find themselves sharing a long-buried insight after just a few sips, or having an emotional catharsis leading to powerful breakthroughs in mind, body and spirit.
For Group Cacao Ceremonies
In group ceremonies, I recommend shifting the dosage slightly to 25g - 35g per person.
This range ensures all participants can enjoy the benefits of cacao while keeping a unified and cohesive field. Ceremonies often involve shared intentions, making the collective cacao experience supportive, enlightening and also more powerful.
The 25g - 35g range is effective as it enhances emotions and encourages connection whilst also allowing the practioner to work in a cohesive and safe way with the group. A study showed that participants in group gatherings reported a 25% increase in feelings of connection when consuming cacao together compared to solo experiences.
Understanding the Maximum Strength of Cacao
Awareness of the maximum strength of a cacao dose is crucial, which is capped at 42g.
Exceeding this limit can cause overstimulation, resulting in jitters, restlessness, heaches or upset stomachs. If you’re unsure about the appropriate amount for yourself or others, always lean towards a lower dose. This will allow a smoother and more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
The Daily Maximum Allowed
You might wonder, “What is the maximum amount of cacao I can consume in a day?”
The answer is 60g.
This total encompasses all daily consumption, whether it’s personal use or shared ceremonies. Moderation is key, allowing you to enjoy cacao's benefits without overwhelming your body or wasting this precious medicine.
Contraindications: Prioritizing Health
While cacao is celebrated for its numerous physical and spiritual benefits, awareness of contraindications is important.
Not everyone can enjoy cacao safely due to specific health conditions or sensitivities.
I will provide more info for contraindications in the next blog post.
If someone has health concerns or you’re unsure about their ability to partake, it’s best to consult a a qualified Cacao Facilitator, your participants GP to find out about their medications and do thorough research before serving cacao.
If you are ever unsure if it is safe to serve someone, then don't. They can always particiapte in your Cacao Ceremony without drinking the medicine itself, instead offer for them to hold and smell the cacao, (or a cacao oil) and serve them a gentle and calming tea instead.
General Recommendations
With cacao, remember that a lower dose is typically preferable to a higher one, especially when starting out on your Cacao journey.
Once you get to know this sacred medicine and have cultivated your own personal relationship with her then you can let her guide you in your dosages.
Cacao should enhance, not detract from your experiences, so always start with a small amount and gauge how it affects you.
As the saying goes, “less is more.” & remember to always approach Cacao with respect and humilty for the ancient medicine that she is.
Finding Your Perfect Dose
Cacao is more than you may have been lead to believe; she is not just 'chocolate' but a revered and ancient Plant Medicine that can lead you to great insights and a deeper connection to yourself and Spirit.
Understanding how to dose correctly can elevate your practices & connection, whether alone or in a ceremonial setting. Personal doses can differ significantly from those in ceremonies.
By paying attention to individual needs, respecting limits, and consulting health guidelines, everyone can appreciate the enriching benefits that Mama Cacao has to offer.
So embrace the exploration of different dosages, observe how they affect you, and trust that cacao can guide you on your path to self-discovery and connection.
Please explore your Cacao dosages and let us know how you get on in the comments below.
Blessings
Dom
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