Pharmakakawa : Theobroma Cacao in Medicine and Ceremony

A concise guide to the medicinal and ceremonial usage of chocolateFollowing on from his magnum opus, The Secret Life of Chocolate, Marcos Patchett returns with a short yet in-depth introduction to the bounty of the cacao plant.

Rich with thorough research, Pharmakakawa takes readers on a journey from the tropical forests of the Americas, (the ancestral home of the plant) to its global movements across the world in which cacao was transformed from a bitter drink to the sweet confectionary known today. Patchett expertly weaves the exceptional history of the cacao plant with its pharmacology, discussing cacao within its ancient ancestral context of Mesoamerican medicine, as well as in relation to contemporary scientific discourse.

The book also explores the deep rooting of cacao in traditional Mesoamerican mythology and ceremony, providing practical examples of how cacao can be incorporated into ritual today. Pharmakakawa concludes with a formulary of Theobroma cacao – complete with actions, indications, contradictions, dosage, preparations and combinations – useful for any herbal practitioner wishing to incorporate the plant into their practice. As well as providing a useful reference text, this delightful little book is the perfect introduction for anyone – herbalists and lay-people alike – wishing to discover more about the power, influence and history of the humble yet dynamic cacao plant.