Cocoa

This is a genus of 20 species of evergreen trees, native to lowland tropical America. They are unusual in bearing flowers directly from the trunk or branches, a habit known as "cauliflory". The fermented, dried and roasted seeds of Theobroma cacao produce cocoa butter and cocoa powder, used in a range of medicinal ways, and for preparing cocoa beverages and chocolate. Cocoa was the basis of the Aztec drink chocólatl and was held in such high esteem by the Incas, Mayas, and Aztecs that the seeds were used as currency. In Mayan times, it was consumed by the nobility as a foaming drink, colored red with Annato (Bixa orellana) and flavored with vanilla and chili. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) first brought cocoa pods from S America to Spain, but the taste for cocoa did not develop in Europe until the 17th century, at which time a pound of chocolate cost the equivalent of £500 today, Africa began cocoa cultivation in the 19th century and now produces over half of all cocoa beans. Cocoa contains over 300 chemicals, including the stimulants caffiene and theobromine, and substances known as tetrahydro-beta-carbolines that may be the cause of chocoholism. It also contains phenylethylamine, similar to amphetamine, which raises blood pressure and blood sugar levels, giving a sense of well-being and alertness. Cocoa powder and paste are bitter, and are usually sweetened when used as a food or flavoring. Chocolate varies greatly in flavor depending on the type of bean, and the methods of processing and manufacture; dark chocolate has the highes percentage of cocoa solids and lowest sugar content; milk chocolate contains dried or condensed milk; and white chocolate is cocoa butter with milk and sugar added. Theobroma is from the Greek words meaning "food of the gods".

Cocoa is the dried and partially fermented fatty seed of the cacao tree, native to South America. It was brought to Central America by the seventh century CE, where it became a favorite of the Aztecs, Mayans, and Toltecs. Its scientific name, Theobroma cacao, means "food of the gods", and it was so revered by the Aztecs that their emperor, Moctezuma II, insisted on having a beverage made out of crushed cocoa beans, which he ate with a golden spood out of a golden goblet, with every meal.

Small, evergreen tree with oblong, thinly leathery, glossy leaves, to 40cm (16in) long, which are pink when young. Clusters of small, pale yellow flowers appear directly from the trunk and branches, followed by yellow, brown, or purple ribbed pods, 12-30cm (5-12in) long, containing numerous seeds in a white mucilaginous pulp.


Common Name:
Cocoa
Other Names:
Cacao, Chocolate Tree
Botanical Name:
Theobroma cacao
Genus:
Theobroma
Family:
Sterculiaceae
Native Location:
C and S America
Cultivation:
Fertile, moist, well-drained soil in shade with high humidity and shelter from wind. Cut back to required shape in early spring to control growth.
Propagation:
By seed sown when ripe; by air layering in spring or summer; by semi-ripe cuttings in summer. All methods require a minimum temperature of 26°C (79°F).
Harvest:
Fruits are cut all year, especially from early summer to early winter; seeds are removed to be fermented, dried, roasted, and ground as paste (cocoa mass). Cocoa butter is extracted from cocoa mass, leaving cocoa powder.
Height:
8m (25ft)
Width:
5-6m (15-20ft)
Hardiness:
Min. 16°C (61°F)
Parts Used:
Fruits, seeds, fat, butter
Properties:
A bitter, stimulant, diuretic herb that lowers blood pressure and dilates the coronary arteries. Cocoa powder and butter are nutrative; the latter also softens and soothes damaged skin.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for angina and high blood pressure (cocoa powder). Externally for chapped skin and burns (cocoa butter).
To treat infectious intestinal diseases, diarrhea, diabetes, liver and kidney disease; as a mild stimulant; to regulate the thyroid.
Possible Side Effects:
Cocoa's side effects include nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, allergic skin reactions, and migraine headaches.
Drug Interactions:
Taking cocoa with these drugs may have an unpredicatable effect on blood sugar levels:
Acarbose, (Prandase, Precose)
Acetohexamide, (Acetohexamide)
Chlorpropamide, (Diabinese, Novo-Propamide)
Glicalzide, (Diamicron, Novo-Gliclazide)
Glimepiride, (Amaryl)
Glipizide, (Glucotrol)
Glipizide and Metformin, (Metaglip)
Gliquidone, (Beglynor, Glurenorm)
Glyburide, (DiaBeta, Micronase)
Glyburide and Metformin, (Glucovance)
Insulin, (Humulin, Novolin R)
Metformin, (Glucophage, Riomet)
Miglitol, (Glyset)
Nateglinide, (Starlix)
Pioglitazone, (Actos)
Repaglinide, (GlucoNorm, Prandin)
Rosiglitazone, (Avandia)
Rosiglitazone and Metformin, (Avandamet)
Tolazamide, (Tolinase)
Tolbutamide, (Apo-Tolbutamide, Tol-Tab)
Taking cocoa with these drugs may increase the risk of side effects due to a buildup of caffeine in the body:
Cimetidine, (Nu-Cimet, Tagamet)
Cinoxacin, (Cinobac)
Ciprofloxacin, (Ciloxan, Cipro)
Disulfiram, (Antabuse)
Ephedrine, (Pretz-D)
Ergotamine, (Cafergor, Cafergot)
Estrogens (Conjugated A/synthetic), (Cenestin)
Estrogens (Conjugated/Equine), (Congest, Premarin)
Estrogens (Conjugated Equine) and Medroxyprogesterone, (Premphase, Prempro)
Estrogens (Esterified), (Estratab, Menest)
Estrogens (Esterified) and Methyltestosterone, (Estratest, Estratest H.S.)
Ethinyl Estradiol and Desogestrel, (Cyclessa, Ortho-Cept)
Ethinyl Estradiol and Ethynodiol Diacetate, (Demulen, Zovia)
Ethinyl Estradiol and Etonogestrel, (NuvaRing)
Ethinyl Estradiol and Levonorgestrel, (Alesse, Triphasil)
Ethinyl Estradiol and Norelgestromin, (Evra, Ortho Evra)
Ethinyl Estradiol and Norethindrone, (Brevicon, Ortho-Novum)
Ethinyl Estradiol and Norgestimate, (Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen)
Ethinyl Estradiol and Norgestrel, (Cryselle, Ovral)
Fluconazole, (Apo-Fluconazole, Diflucan)
Fluvoxamine, (Alti-Fluvoxamine, Luvox)
Gatifloxacin, (Tequin, Zymar)
Gemifloxacin, (Factive)
Levofloxacin, (Levaquin, Qiuxin)
Lomefloxacin, (Maxaquin)
Mestranol and Norethindrone, (Necon 1/50, Ortho-Novum 1/50)
Mexiletine, (Mextil, Novo-Mexiletine)
Moxifloxacin, (Avelox, Vigamox)
Nalidixic Acid, (NegGram)
Norfloxacin, (Apo-Norflox, Noroxin)
Ofloxacin, (Floxin, Ocuflox)
Pefloxacin, (Peflacine, Perflox)
Riluzole, (Rilutek)
Sparfloxacin, (Zagam)
Terbinafine, (Lamisil, Lamisil AT)
Trovafloxacin, (Trovafloxacin)
Verapamil, (Calan, Isoptin SR)
Taking large amounts of cocoa with these drugs may increase the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure):
Ephedrine, (Pretz-D)
Iproniazid, (Marsilid)
Moclobemide, (Alti-Moclobemide, Nu-Moclobemide)
Phenelzine, (Nardil)
Selegiline, (Eldepryl)
Tranylcypromine, (Parnate)
Taking cocoa with these drugs may increase central nervous system stimulation:
Albuterol, (Proventil, Ventolin)
Clobenzorex, (Asenlix)
Diethylpropion, (Tenuate)
Epinephrine, (Adrenalin, EpiPen)
Fenoterol, (Berotec)
Modafinil, (Alertec, Provigil)
Phentermine, (Adipex-P, Ionamin)
Pseudoephedrine, (Dimetapp Decongestant, Sudafed)
Taking cocoa with thses drugs may cause or increase gastrointestinal irritation:
Celecoxib, (Celebrex)
Ibuprofen, (Advil, Motrin)
Indomethacin, (Indocin, Novo-Methacin)
Ketoprofen, (Orudis, Rhodis)
Ketorolac, (Acular, Toradol)
Naproxen, (Aleve, Naprosyn)
Piroxicam, (Feldene, Nu-Pirox)
Rofecoxib, (Vioxx)
Taking Cocoa with these drugs may be harmful:
Alendronate, (Fosamax, Novo-Alendronate)—May reduce drug effectiveness
Clozapine, (Clozaril, Gen-Clozapine)—May cause increased psychotic symptoms
Dipyridamole, (Novo-Dipiradol, Persantine)—May reduce drug effectiveness
Ergotamine, (Cafergor, Cafergot)—May increase drug absorption
Etodolac, (Lodine, Utradol)—May increase risk of liver damage
Lithium, (Carbolith, Eskalith)—May cause drug levels in the body to rise, heightening "lithium tremor", when high amounts of caffeine are taken over time and suddenly stopped.
Riluzole, (Rilutek)—Increases risk of drug side effects
Selegiline, (Eldepryl)—May increase risk of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
Theophylline, (Elixophyllin, Theochron)—May increase toxic effects of the drug
Lab Test Alterations:
  • May increase urine 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations.
  • May increase urine catecholamine concentrations.
  • May increase bleeding time due to antiplatelet activity.
  • May increase plasma catecholamine levels
  • May increase urine creatine levels.
  • May alter test results with dipyridamole thallium imaging studies.
  • May increase or decrease blood glucose levels
  • may increase blood lactate levels when combined with ephedrine (a constituent of Ma-Huang).
  • May cause a false positive diagnosis of neuro-blastoma, when diagnosis is based on tests of urine vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) or catecholamine concentrations, because caffeine can increase both of these.
  • May alter results of pulmonary function tests, including forced expiratory volume at one minue (FEV1) and midexpiratory flow rates.
  • May increase serum urate test results determined by the Bittner method.
  • May increase urinary calcium levels.
  • May increase urine vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) concentrations.
  • May increase two-hour postprandial glucose test if caffeine is ingested during test.
  • May cause a false positive diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, when diagnosis is based on tests of urine vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) or catecholine concentrations, because caffeine can increase both of these.
Disease Interactions:
  • May worsen anxiety disorders.
  • May worsen bleeding disorders.
  • May trigger irregular heartbeat.
  • May worsen gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcers.
  • May contribute to insulin resistance and raise blood sugar following a meal.
  • May play a role in glaucoma by increasing the intraocular pressure ("eye pressure").
  • May raise blood pressure in those with hypertension.
  • May contribute to osteoporosis by encouraging the body to excrete calcium.
Supplement Interactions:
  • May increase therapeutic and adverse effects of caffeine when taken with herbs and supplements containing caffeine, such as Cola nut, Guarana, and Maté.
  • May increase urinary calcium excretion.
  • Increased risk of serious life-threatening or debilitating effects, such as low blood pressure (hypotension), heart attack (myocardial infarction), stroke, seizures, and death when used< with Ma-Huang.
  • Increased risk of ischemic stroke when combined with Ma-Huang and Creatine.
  • Possible decreasesd beneficial effects of creatine on athletic performance due to inhibition of phosphocreatine resythesis.
Food Interactions:
May increase therapeutic and adverse effects of caffeine when taken together with caffeine-containing foods and drinks.
Culinary Uses:
Chocolate is used to flavor game, sauces (especially with chili in Mexican mole), ice cream, cakes, cookies, pastries, candy, and milk drinks; also as a food and ingredient in its own right.
Economic Uses:
Chocolate is used to flavor liqueurs, such as Bailey's Irish Cream. Cocoa butter is used in cosmetics, skin creams, and as a base for pessaries and suppositories. By-products from cocoa processing include fertilizer, fodder, fuel (husks), jelly, alcohol, and vinegar (pulp).
Warning:
Contraindicated in irritable bowel syndrome.
Cocoa products may cause allergies or migraines.
Bibliography:
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pg 386
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp.111-113, 154-155