Cocoa and psilocybin-containing mushrooms each have a history stretching back centuries in Central and South America. Both held a special place within pre-Columbian cultures and are now being re-examined from a completely different perspective: modern nutritional science and neuroscience.
At Wise Rootz, we bring those two worlds together in what we The Aztec Combo namely: microdosing with truffles combined with pure cocoa.
But why do cocoa and truffles actually go so well together? Is there really a synergy at play? And what can we – and cannot we – say about this from a scientific point of view?
Long before cocoa became a chocolate bar, there was Theobroma cacao already has significant cultural significance.
Archaeological research shows that cocoa was already in use thousands of years ago. The oldest archaeological evidence of cocoa in South America dates from around 5,300 years ago. Later, cocoa became an important foodstuff and ceremonial product within various Mesoamerican cultures.
Psilocybin-containing mushrooms also have a long history in Mesoamerica.
Historical sources describe the use of mushrooms by the Aztecs teonanácatl were mentioned, usually translated as “meat of the gods”. They were used in religious and ceremonial contexts.
Cocoa and psychedelic mushrooms are therefore both part of a much older history of the relationship between humans, nature, food and ritual.
The botanical name for cocoa is almost poetic:
Theobroma cacao.
Theobroma comes from Greek and literally means "food of the gods".
Incidentally, the name was only given to the genus by Carl Linnaeus in the eighteenth century; it is therefore not an original Aztec name.
But cocoa did indeed hold a special status within Mesoamerican cultures.
Historical sources describe cocoa not only as a foodstuff, but also as an ingredient in drinks and traditional dishes. Furthermore, cocoa was used as a carrier for other botanical ingredients.
And we now know that, chemically speaking, cocoa is at least as interesting as it is culturally.
Pure cocoa contains hundreds of natural compounds.
Three groups in particular are of interest to our consortium:
THEOBROMINE
The characteristic methylxanthine found in cocoa. Theobromine has a mildly stimulating effect, which distinguishes it from caffeine.
Cocoa flavanols
Cocoa is rich in flavanols, including epicatechin. These compounds have been extensively studied for their effects on vascular function.
Minerals and other bioactive substances
Cocoa provides, amongst other things, magnesium and contains various polyphenols and other natural compounds.
The result is a natural product that is far more complex than just its flavour.
Would you like to find out more about the composition, processing and science behind cocoa? Read our comprehensive guide on ceremonial cocoa.
One of the most interesting areas of research into cocoa is its relationship with blood flow.
Cocoa flavanols may influence the production and bioavailability of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide plays an important role in vasodilation — the relaxation and widening of blood vessels.
In a double-blind crossover study involving healthy adults aged 50–65, a flavanol-rich cocoa drink caused a significant increase in regional cerebral perfusion compared with a low-flavanol control drink.
Other studies have also found changes in cerebral oxygenation following the consumption of cocoa flavanols.
That does not automatically mean that any amount of cocoa improves your cognitive performance. Research findings on this are mixed.
But it does show that cocoa measurable physiological effects on vascular function and cerebral circulation may have.
The truffles used for microdosing naturally contain psilocybin.
After ingestion, psilocybin is converted into psilocin in the body. Psilocin has an affinity for various serotonin receptors, in particular the 5-HT2A receptor is important for the characteristic effects of psilocybin.
At microdosing a much smaller amount is used than in psychedelic clinical trials.
The starting point is therefore different:
not a full psychedelic experience, but a a small amount that allows you to function normally.
At Wise Rootz, we advise beginners to start with 0.5 grams of fresh truffle to start and then calmly their personal sweet spot to discover, with a maximum of 1 gramme within us microdosing protocol.
We need to make an important distinction here.
It is often claimed online that cocoa chemically enhances the effects of psilocybin because cocoa MAO inhibitors would contain substances that slow down the breakdown of psilocybin or psilocin.
There is no convincing human evidence to support this.
We would therefore not claim that cocoa makes a microdose demonstrably stronger or longer-lasting.
The interesting synergy lies elsewhere.
For us, the combination consists of several layers.
Cocoa and truffles contain completely different natural compounds.
Cocoa contains, amongst other things, theobromine and flavanols. The truffle provides psilocybin, which is converted into psilocin in the body.
In doing so, you are combining two natural products, each with a very different physiological profile.
You can take a microdose in a matter of seconds.
A cocoa moment actually encourages you to slow down.
You savour the moment. You take a moment. You can set your intention before carrying on with your day.
That may seem like a minor difference, but in the field of psychedelic research we know that context, expectation and intention Relevant aspects of the experience may include.
That is why we do not see cocoa merely as an ingredient.
It’s part of the ritual.
This is perhaps the most important reason why we have incorporated cocoa into our microdosing experience.
Wise Rootz is not about:
Take a truffle and see what happens.
We want to make microdosing a more mindful process.
You start your day.
You take your microdose.
Let the cocoa melt gently.
You decide what you want to focus on that day.
And later, you reflect on what you have experienced.
Measure. Observe. Reflect.
Cocoa provides a natural opportunity to begin that process.
Cocoa and psilocybin-containing mushrooms each hold a special place in the history of Mesoamerica.
Archaeological and historical research shows that cocoa was used within various pre-Columbian cultures as a foodstuff, a drink and a ceremonial substance. The ceremonial use of psilocybin-containing mushrooms has also been historically documented.
The combination of cocoa and psilocybin is now also known as the Aztec Combo genoemd. Die moderne benaming verwijst naar de historische verbondenheid van beide natuurproducten met Meso-Amerikaanse culturen en rituelen.
Belangrijk daarbij is het onderscheid tussen de historische achtergrond van de afzonderlijke producten en de moderne naam voor hun combinatie. Er is overtuigend bewijs voor het gebruik van zowel cacao als psychoactieve paddenstoelen in Meso-Amerika, maar onvoldoende historische onderbouwing om de Aztec Combo zoals we die tegenwoordig kennen als één vast Azteeks gebruiksprotocol te presenteren.
Voor Wise Rootz maakt juist het samenbrengen van die oude natuurproducten met hedendaagse kennis de combinatie zo interessant.
Cacao en truffel brengen ieder hun eigen karakter en bioactieve profiel mee. Het cacao-ritueel voegt daar een bewust moment voor intentie, aandacht en reflectie aan toe.
Dat sluit aan bij hoe wij microdosing benaderen:
Measure. Observe. Reflect.
Wat cacao en psilocybinehoudende truffels voor ons zo fascinerend maakt, is dat beide ooit onderdeel waren van culturen die heel anders naar natuur en ritueel keken dan wij tegenwoordig doen.
Nu kunnen we dezelfde natuurproducten onderzoeken met moderne technieken.
We kunnen flavanolen meten.
We kunnen hersenactiviteit onderzoeken.
We kunnen serotoninereceptoren bestuderen.
We kunnen veranderingen in cerebrale doorbloeding meten.
En tegelijkertijd kunnen we erkennen dat gezondheid en welzijn niet uitsluitend bestaan uit moleculen.
Aandacht, context, intentie en ritueel doen er ook toe.
Precies daar komt de Wise Rootz Azteekse Combo samen.
In de Wise Rootz Microdosing Box combineren we daarom een microdose truffel met onze speciaal ontwikkelde cacao.
Cacao en truffel brengen ieder hun eigen karakter en bioactieve profiel mee, terwijl het cacao-ritueel ruimte creëert voor intentie, aandacht en reflectie.
Truffel. Cacao. Intentie. Observatie. Reflectie.
Een moderne interpretatie van twee bijzondere natuurproducten met diepe historische wortels.
Ontdek de Wise Rootz Microdosing Box →
Deze blog is bedoeld voor algemene, educatieve informatie en is geen medisch advies. Historisch of traditioneel gebruik van cacao en psilocybinehoudende paddenstoelen is geen bewijs voor werkzaamheid of veiligheid. Onderzoek naar psilocybine vindt veelal plaats onder gecontroleerde omstandigheden en resultaten daarvan kunnen niet rechtstreeks worden vertaald naar microdosing.
Microdosing is niet voor iedereen geschikt. Gebruik geen microdosingproducten tijdens zwangerschap of borstvoeding, door minderjarigen of bij een persoonlijke voorgeschiedenis van psychose. Gebruik je medicatie of heb je een lichamelijke of psychische aandoening, overleg dan vooraf met een arts of andere gekwalificeerde zorgverlener.
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Henderson JS, Joyce RA, Hall GR, Hurst WJ, McGovern PE. Chemical and archaeological evidence for the earliest cacao beverages. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.2007;104(48):18937–18940. doi:10.1073/pnas.0708815104.
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