CACAO

Cacao

(Cocoa)

Pharmacy

- cac. Cacao. Cocoa. Theobroma cacao.

N.0. Sterculiaceac. Tribe, Buennerieae. Triruration of the seeds.

Historical dose: Trituration and all potencies.

Clinical

• Aneurism
• Angina pectoris
• Apoplexy
• Atheroma
• Asthma
• Bladder, paralysis
• Brain, congestion
• Bronchitis
• Diaphragm, rheumatism
• Dropsy
• Exophthalmic goitre
• Fistula
• Hematuria
• Hemoptysis
• Hemorrhage
• Headaches
• Heart, affections
• Heart, hypertrophy
• Intermittent fever
• Lungs, hemorrhage
• Melancholy
• Menstruation, painful
• Malaria
• Neuralgia
• Otitis
• Ovaries, inflammation
• Ovaritis
• Pneumonia
• Prostate, affections
• Rheumatism
• Sunstroke
• Traumatic fever
• Vaginismus

Herbal

Theobroma is Greek for "Food of the Gods." Mayan Indian legend has it that the cocoa tree was a gift from the gods. The Mayas believed the drink made from the cocoa seeds would nourish them after death. The Aztecs believed cocoa would relieve their fatigue and stimulate their mental and psychic abilities.

The Spanish invaders were surprised to find that the cocoa beans were valued more than any other substance, even more than gold. The Aztecs used a chocolate drink as a base in many of their medicinal formulas. The Aztec nobility used the chocolate drink favored with vanilla and spices as a pleasurable drink.

Homeopathic

The main ingredients of chocolate are caffeine, phenylethylamine, theobromine, and theophylline. Feeding with waste chocolate led to fatal poisoning in calves. The animals showed excitement, stared about in all directions, walked with exaggerated strides, and had convulsions. One calf died, possibly from heart failure.

Allen noted, "In explaining the nutritive value of Cacao, we must take into account the presence in this substance of a special alkaloid, theobromin, whose physiological effects are identical with those of caffeine and thein.

"Which, retarding the organic waste in the same way as the active principles of coffee and tea, place Cacao high up among the preservative substances or those that check tissue waste."

"By placing ourselves under the influence of a decoction highly charged with aromatic principles and made from powdered Cacao well roasted, we ascertained that this beverage produces an excitement of the nervous system similar to that caused by a strong infusion of black coffee."

"Since these effects are insignificant if a decoction of the raw bean is employed. It is natural to attribute them to the aromatic essences that are developed in the Cacao by the process of roasting. A still wider difference is observed when we compare the effects on the circulation respectively produced by a decoction of powdered Cacao roasted and one of the same substance in a crude state."

"The former case indicated an excitement of the circulation, as shown by an accelerated pulse, with an increased fullness and diminished arterial pressure."

"When, on the other hand, an infusion of the raw bean is made use of, the action of the theobromin predominates and an entirely different character of pulse is the result, as may be placed beyond doubt by examining the results obtained from a single individual."

Causation

Damp. Disappointed love. Sun

Sensations

Fingers were enlarged on waking. Grain of sand under skin. Worm under skin which ran away when touched.

Comments

Allen stated, "In order to ascertain the effect of the active ingredients contained in Cacao, (aromatic essences and theobromin) upon the nervous system, it was necessary to separate those ingredients, as far as possible from the fatty substances (cacao butter) of which the beans are so largely composed. With this view, we prepared a decoction of powdered Cacao in boiling water and conducted our experiments with this liquid."

Relations

Compare: (I) Chocolate, Coffea, Thea.

References

Allen. Desai.