Chocolate as a Cure For Everything
November 3, 2009
Before modern science began discovering the much talked about health benefits of chocolate, the Mayans (central America) and Aztecs (ancient Mexico) considered it a powerful remedy to many ailments.
Theobroma cacao, or the “chocolate tree,” has been used in folk medicine as an anticeptic, diurectic, and parasiticide. It has been used to heal burns, cough, dry lips, fever, listlessness, malaria, nephrosis, rheumatism, snakebites, and small wounds.
The cacao tree was thought by the Aztecs to be a gift from their god Quetzalcoatl, which means “feathered serpent.” The Aztecs would drink ground cacao in religious ceremonies to thank the gods for their generosity. The drink was said to give feelings of euphoria and stamina.
When cacao beans were introduced to Europe, the stimulant effects (now known to be caffeine and theobromine) gave it the reputation as an aphrodisiac. Europeans drank cacao more as a love potion than religious offering.
In Mayan times, incense consisting of cacao beans would be burned as an offering to the gods for safe travel and speedy return.
In ancient America, cacao was also used to try to cure malaria and other types of fever diseases by inhaling the smoke during healing rituals.
Today, we hear chocolate is rich in “flavanoids,” “anti-oxidants,” and phenylethylamine (PEA). The science and benefits seem to change over the years, but chocolate has always been seen as good for us.
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Hi Angel,
Thanks for the comment. I have corrected the post for your points 2 and 3. I made a sweeping generalization of region and introduced an unintentional error.
As for Moctezuma, you are also correct. As to why many sites have it wrong, well, Montezuma is a legitimate varient spelling. It’s the common spelling (and represents the pronunciation) that I learned as a child and that continues to be taught in schools here in the U.S. So that my most typical audience understands who I am talking about I used the name they would best relate to.
Hi, I liked your website. I was reading the articles, very interesting, but I have 3 comments:
1.- when you refer to the aztec emperor, it is not Montezuma, the correct name is Moctezuma (google it). Actually there is a beer brand with that name (www.ccm.com.mx). Unfortunatly I do not know why many sites on internet have the wrong name, but believe me I am right.
2.- Mayans did not live in southamerica
3.- Aztecs never lived in central or southamerica, only in the ancient Mexico
And I know what I am talking about because I am mexican.
Nice site, greetings
Angel