Who doesn’t love cacao in some way, shape, or form? (Of course, dark chocolate is the best kind of chocolate in my not-so-humble opinion, but that’s beside the point.) In this episode, I got to interview Marcos Patchett, a London herbalist with a very interesting backstory, who also happens to be an expert  on cacao.

Marcos shared so many fascinating aspects of this amazing plant, from its rich history in South America to its chemical constituents and the way it affects our bodies.  He also dove into its many health benefits – so now you have an excuse to indulge in some high-quality chocolate!

One traditional way to work with cacao is as a refreshing drink called pozol. Marcos shared a recipe for pozol that he learned in Mexico; you can download your beautifully illustrated copy here: https://bit.ly/4dged6i

Good chocolate is much more than just a decadent treat! Here are just a few ways cacao can benefit your health:

► It can help reduce stress and anxiety, and even certain kinds of pain

► It’s high in antioxidants and other nutrients

► It improves circulation and reduces inflammation

To learn even more amazing benefits of cacao, be sure to tune in to the entire episode!

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► How the many different constituents of cacao work together to affect your brain chemistry

► The importance of intention when preparing and using herbal medicine

► How adding some cacao to other herbs can help them work better

► Why cacao is good medicine for almost everyone, from young mothers to elderly gentlemen

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t know him, Marcos has practiced as a medical herbalist since 2005, initially specialising in complementary care for people living with HIV. He practiced from Neal’s Yard Remedies Therapy Rooms in London from 2007 to 2016, and was a clinical supervisor at Middlesex University’s Western Herbal Medicine, Westminster University, and Heartwood Online. His first book, The Secret Life of Chocolate, was released in 2020, and the paperback edit, Pharmakakawa, came out last year. Marcos also teaches Medieval astrology. He launched Plan*tarium, a school of medical astrology for herbalists, therapists, and medical practitioners, in 2024.

I’m so excited to share our conversation with you today!

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Get full show notes and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com

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On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health.

Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com.

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Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here.