Cacao is generally safe for most people, however:

• If you take anti-depressants, stronger ceremonial cacao than what we will be using should not be taken. Severe headaches and sweating can result. However, people using anti-depressants have had no problem taking the type of raw, jungle grown Ecuadorian cacao that we will be using in our ceremony.

• A chocolate shaman says in regards to his own cacao (again, more intense than what we will be using): People with a heart condition, where a 20% increase in heart rate would be a medical emergency, should not drink strong ceremonial cacao, or take very little while they monitor its effect on their heart rate. However, it does lower blood pressure  (cacao is a vasodilator), if your pressure is high. Again, the type of cacao we will be using at the ceremony is much gentler, but if you have any heart condition you may want to take a smaller amount or none at all.

If you have health questions or concerns, please consult your physician.

• Avoid caffeine before taking cacao. This will be overly stimulating to your body and will not serve you in receiving the highest benefits of cacao.

• Adding a plant-based milk (e.g., nut milks) to cacao is a lovely experience, however cow’s milk is not recommended. Cacao Spirit says no to this, as it blocks assimilation of some of the properties of cacao.

• Cacao is poisonous for dogs, horses, parrots, and cats. They lack the enzymes to metabolize the theobromine in cacao. 

• Do not ingest more than 2 oz (57 grams) at one time. It’s unnecessary to have that much and will cause nausea in some people.