Before the advent of scientific medicine at all times and on all continents, people gathered bit by bit knowledge about the beneficial properties of plants, used them as the only possible means of healing, and then this knowledge was verbally passed down from generation to generation - at least until written language appeared.
Exotic for temperate latitudes of cocoa beans, according to archaeological research on the territory of modern Mexico, were used by the distant ancestors of the Aztecs in the XVIII-XV centuries. BC. Destroying the Aztec civilization, the conquistadors brought cocoa to Europe, having managed to take from the custodians of ancient knowledge only a recipe for a drink from ground cocoa beans; some time later, Europeans learned to make chocolate from it.
Therefore, the properties of cocoa were first studied from a culinary point of view, and the use for medicinal purposes began later, from the middle of the 16th century, and was more based on scientific knowledge about the composition of cocoa butter. But traditional medicine did not stand aside, and several simple ways to use cocoa butter are used quite successfully, along with medicines that include cocoa butter and its individual components.
Cocoa Butter: Properties and Biochemical Composition
The main principle of traditional and alternative medicine, known since the time of Hippocrates, is: "Do no harm!" Therefore, using any treatment methods, you need to carefully consider the composition of the medicine or folk remedy. The modern possibilities of medicine allow us to study the composition of any folk remedy at the molecular level.
Indeed, cocoa butter has beneficial elements that have been successfully used in pharmacology. Unlike cocoa powder, natural fruit oil contains only two vitamins:
- tocopherol (vitamin E) - a powerful immunomodulator and antioxidant. As part of cocoa butter, it is ideally absorbed by the body, therefore it is necessary, first of all, for people suffering from tocopherol deficiency: with acanthocytosis, congenital muscular dystrophy, type II dyserythropoietic anemia.
100 g of cocoa butter contains 12% tocopherol.
- vitamin K - a fat-soluble vitamin involved in blood coagulation processes. When applied externally, it has a wound healing effect. Vitamin K takes part in protein synthesis, metabolic processes of bone and connective tissue, normal kidney function, contributes to the absorption of calcium and vitamin D. Due to the fact that this vitamin is synthesized in the intestine, its deficiency is rare. In the absence of pathologies associated with a deficiency of this vitamin (low blood coagulation), excessive consumption of cocoa butter can cause an allergic reaction. Increased doses of vitamin intake inside provoke thickening of the walls of blood vessels, the formation of plaques.
100 grams of cocoa butter contains 21% vitamin K.
It should also be borne in mind that it enters the body with products containing it in sufficient quantities:
cabbage
cereals
cow's milk and dairy products,
eggs
meat
avocado,
kiwi,
pumpkin
bananas
olive oil.
Vitamin B4 (choline) is present in a small amount in cocoa butter - 0.04%. The greatest value in cocoa butter is the rich composition of fats.
Saturated Fatty Acids:
Stearic 33.2%
Palmitic 25.4%
Myristic 0.01%
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids:
Oleic 32.6%
Palmitoleic 0.2%
Polyunsaturated fats:
Linoleic 2.8%
Linolenic 0.1%
Monounsaturated fats stimulate the production of enzymes during digestion. Vegetable oleic acid is a "light" fat, unlike animal fats and does not require additional energy costs for its absorption, it is one of the components of subcutaneous fat. Triglycerides are necessary for the protective and reproductive functions of the body. They are involved in blood coagulation of blood pressure regulation.
The physical properties of cocoa butter are largely determined by the composition of fatty acids, which have a relatively low melting point: at temperatures above 32-35 ° C, the oil passes from a solid to a liquid and viscous mass, after which it is completely absorbed into the skin and mucous membranes.
As you know, fats are ideal conductors of fat-soluble vitamins. For this reason, cocoa butter is an ideal product for use in pharmacology and the manufacture of cosmetics.
Cocoa Butter: Application in Traditional Medicine
Based on the foregoing, some readers will have to disappoint: the numerous folk recipes based on cacao butter, used for cough, against stresses are groundless inventions of the "experts" of traditional medicine, whose recipes are "full of the world wide web." In addition to the warming effect, cocoa butter does not bring any noticeable benefits for colds. With the same success, for warming, coating the skin with an oily film, you can use any vegetable oil that contains Vitamin E in abundance. Cocoa butter gives a more noticeable effect in the use of homemade cosmetic masks - this is facilitated by just Vitamin E, which improves skin regeneration.
But this does not mean that you need to completely abandon the folk methods of treating cough, stress, burns, lesions of the mucous membranes with the help of cocoa butter. The properties of the fats included in its composition, in these cases are very useful, along with traces of essential oils, which, despite processing and wringing, remain in the product. The pleasant smell of chocolate will especially please children. Cocoa butter is a kind of vehicle for other, more active and effective components containing the necessary vitamins and other additives.
Before moving on to cocoa butter recipes, the good news is. Cocoa beans really have many useful properties and a valuable vitamin and mineral composition, but cocoa butter needs to be combined with natural cocoa powder, that is, almost return it to its original state in order to get the benefit, which, most likely, was known to the Aztecs who believed cocoa sacred fruit.
Important detail: the powder should have a reddish tint, so pay attention to the quality and timing of the purchase, and select cocoa butter in a pharmacy to have maximum confidence in its quality. Since we are talking about the use of cocoa butter in folk medicine, take another tip: do not try to replace the cocoa butter and powder with chocolate, because not all of its varieties are made from natural cocoa butter. More often than not, cheaper substitutes are used to increase the volume of a popularly beloved delicacy and ensure its low cost.
Cocoa butter: use in the treatment of cough, sore throat
Honey (liquid) 1 tsp.
Warm milk 200 ml
Cocoa Butter 1 tsp
Cocoa Powder 20 g (optional)
Boil the milk by first adding cocoa powder to it. Cool to 32-35o, put on a spoonful of honey and cocoa butter. Drink warm at night.
Such a drink has a warming and enveloping effect, relieves irritation of the mucous membrane with an angry cough.
Contraindication: milk allergy, cocoa powder (essential compounds), honey.
Cocoa butter (for external use) for coughing, bronchitis can be used as a base by adding menthol oil, balm to it. For warming and a calming effect in acute coughing fits, combine an asterisk or peppermint extract (oil) in equal proportions, and rub the chest with the ointment (except for the heart area) with the ointment, along the back, between the shoulder blades. Wrap the patient with a soft and warm cloth. It is advisable to grind at the same time as taking the drink (recipe above). Cover with a blanket.
Cocoa butter: use in the treatment of burns, cracks, abrasions, diaper rash
Minor damage to the skin can be treated independently by preparing an ointment from turmeric and cocoa butter. Turmeric (Indian saffron) powder is an excellent natural antiseptic. Add it to cocoa butter (50/50), mix and grease the wound. Turmeric has a drying effect, draws out pus, and the oil helps to prevent cracking during healing. Dressings with cooked ointment must be changed in the morning and evening. Store the ointment in the refrigerator. Before use, put a small amount on a sterile cloth and let it warm up at room temperature, then apply to the wound.
In the pharmaceutical industry, anti-hemorrhoidal candles are made based on cocoa butter to treat erosion and some gynecological diseases. Cocoa butter at the same time serves as the basis for injectable drugs.
On this principle, a folk remedy is built for the treatment of non-launched forms of hemorrhoids: sea buckthorn oil is mixed in equal amounts with cocoa butter. They are frozen to a solid state, then rolled out in the form of candles and placed in the anus.
Cocoa Butter: Use for Stress
The process of preparing a stress medicine based on cocoa butter should be assigned to the patient. The main danger of this medicine is its overdose or allergic reactions to the components of chocolate.
True, caffeine and theobromine, which have a calming effect, are contained in very small quantities in cocoa butter, but in this case, the essential oils contained in chocolate have a positive effect.
It is a cup of hot chocolate that helps relieve stress as well as possible. Just be sure to use cocoa butter for its preparation.
The properties of butter, which is often used in the preparation of desserts, will not have the proper therapeutic effect. By the way, theobromine, derived from cocoa beans, is also used in the pharmaceutical industry as a cough suppressant.
Cocoa Butter: Properties and Contraindications
Having decided to use alternative methods of treatment, do not forget to consult with your doctor first. Nowadays, in addition to traditional medicine recipes and a huge amount of scientific and almost scientific information, it is important to remember that there is official medicine, which, with a reasonable approach, can successfully coexist with traditional healing.
To be convincing, we give one example in the conclusion of the article: it is known that if there is a gallstone, it is extremely dangerous to independently start the probe procedure.
Indeed, cocoa butter has a choleretic effect, but using such a folk remedy without consulting a gastroenterologist and not having done an ultrasound first is tantamount to suicide. What of the fact that someone wrote on the network that such a folk remedy helped him? If you are not sure, do not experiment with yourself.
Even such a seemingly harmless product, like cocoa butter, can, if used improperly, lead to extremely unpleasant and unforeseen consequences.
Be careful and take care of your health! Believe me, the doctor also carefully monitors the “discoveries” in traditional medicine, but he also has scientific knowledge and can carefully study the anamnesis before advising anything.
