icon Nurturing Harmony: Cacao for the Menstrual Cycle | Sacred Earth Medicine

Nurturing Harmony: Embracing Your Feminine Cycles with Cacao

by The Sacred Earth Medicine Team on May 09, 2025
image credit: Kallen Mikel

Our Cyclical Nature

We need only witness the changing seasons or the sun's rising and setting to see evidence that we live in a cyclical world; it truly is everywhere we look!

Nature might be cyclical, but how we live in modern culture generally is not. It’s linear, forward moving, focused primarily on continuous productivity and masculine ‘doing’ energy. We’re, for the most part, out of alignment with the rhythms and cycles of the natural world around us. This in itself may not be problematic (though we kinda think it is!), but for women, it can be, for we are not linear creatures!

Like nature, the feminine is cyclical, and women experience this firsthand through their bodies. Similar to the cycles of the sun, moon, and seasons, we weave a continuous and rhythmic dance throughout each month and across our lives.

Living in harmony with your cyclical nature, rather than going against the natural flow (which can cause various forms of dis-ease for women), can provide a wellspring of nourishment, connection, and benefits to a woman’s well-being.

In this journal, we’re excited to dive into all things Cycles and Cacao and how supportive their union can be, especially for women, regardless of what phase or stage you’re in! So read on...

The Suportive Nature of Cacao

One thing we know for sure is that Cacao supports our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. For women, it can nurture them not only through the various stages of their lives but also throughout the phases of their monthly menstrual cycle.

The supportive nature and benefits of Cacao are numerous! It balances hormones, enhances mood, supports emotional well-being, is a natural pain relief, provides nutrient-dense support – especially minerals - and offers an amazing energy boost!

It’s heart-opening and offers mental health support; it fosters connection to self and spirit, offers a sense of well-being and peace, promotes enhanced intuition and clarity and is known for its stress-relieving properties.

So, let’s journey a little deeper into the mysteries of the womb and the magic of cacao for our monthly menstrual cycle.

Nourishment for the Womb - Cacao for the Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is divided into 4 phases, or what we like to call inner seasons. Each season has a distinct and unique cocktail of hormonal release plus an energetic profile. Hence, to live in deeper harmony and alignment with our cyclical nature, our needs and how we meet ourselves each month must shift and change depending on the season we find ourselves in.

Each phase offers inherent wisdom or ‘superpowers’ that we can harness, so let’s break it down a little more and look at the phases, the corresponding archetypes and the best way cacao can nourish and support you through each inner season.

Follicular Phase – Inner Spring – the time of the Maiden

At this time of our cycle, hormones are on the rise, particularly the FSH or follicle-stimulating hormone, + estrogen. It’s a powerful time of renewal when our creativity blossoms, and it’s a wonderful time for seeding intentions, starting new things and moving the body.

Some of the ways Cacao can support your Inner Spring include:

  • Mood Improvement – cacao is literally overflowing with mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like phenylethylamine, dopamine, serotonin and anandamide, to name a few, which not only improve mood but also foster those feel-good emotions! You can check our journal Cacao as a Mental Health Ally for more details about these mood-boosting properties.
  • Enriched creativity – as this phase is all about fresh growth, combining cacao with intention setting is a match made in heaven!
  • Energy Expansion - the amazing compounds of theobromine and caffeine found in cacao offer a gentle yet potent boost of energy that can be harnessed for fueling new endeavours.

This is the time of the Inner Maiden archetype and is governed by feelings of playfulness, curiosity, optimism, innovation, abundance, innocence, courage, sensuality and inspiration.

Ovulation – Inner Summer – the time of the Mother

This is the shortest part of our inner cycle, and at ovulation, estrogen and the LH (luteinising hormone) are at their peak. It is a time steeped in creativity, power, and the birthing of seeds into being, full expression, and manifestation. The energy at this peak point in the cycle is magnetic and dynamic, making it the perfect time for us to be out in the world sharing our gifts and enjoying community.

Some of the ways Cacao can support your Inner Summer include:

  • Regulating Hormones – we know that cacao is bursting with all the good stuff -like magnesium and antioxidants - that can help support hormone balance and reproductive health, plus assist in an easeful transition into the luteal phase.
  • Encouraging Connection – at this outward time of the cycle, we’re all about connection with the world around us! The heart-opening benefits of ceremonial cacao truly do enhance feelings of love and connection that we can harness in our relating and service to the community.
  • Heightening Focus – this is the time of the cycle to be birthing your work in the world, holding workshops and running events, etc. – so we can use ceremonial cacao to increase clarity, hone focus and offer us a hit of extra energy to help us bring our intentions into manifestation.

Aligned with the archetype of the Mother, this is the time to have fun, play, not take life too seriously, share your love and bring the seeds of intention planted in the Winter and nourished in the Spring to manifestation. The Mother represents abundance, connectivity, and a deep sense of empathy.

Luteal phase – Inner Autumn – the time of the Maga

The hormone progesterone dominates this part of the cycle that leads up to menstruation, offering support for mood management. The autumn of our cycle is the time of the harvest, of letting go, of integration, consolidation and completing tasks. It can be a more tender and sensitive time for a woman who may feel a need for more spaciousness and solitude. It’s an optimal time for increasing self-care rituals and nurturing practices, plus integrating lessons received throughout the cycle.

Some of the ways Cacao can support your Inner Autumn include:

  • Soothing PMS Symptoms – with its cocktail of minerals, it can help to support some of the symptoms women may experience at this time. As a relaxant, Magnesium can support muscle relaxation and help ease cramps and bloating. Zinc is supportive in progesterone production, which is at its peak at this time, and supports mood.
  • Encourages Relaxation – due to the release of endorphins that cacao facilitates, it has a calming effect, supporting stress relief and promoting relaxation.
  • Supports Self Care – with its heart-opening and calming properties, alongside its ability to foster self-reflection, a warm mug of ceremonial cacao invites a deeper listening. It supports including more nurturing + honouring of needs during this phase.

The Maga, Queen, or Wild Woman archetype is your guide through the Autumn – and she is wild, powerful and filled with untamed energy! As things fall away, this is a time of deep introspection and heightened intuition. A phase where we get really ‘real’ with ourselves, gain clarity and embrace our inner knowing and strength. If welcomed, this stage and archetypal phase can be a potent time of transformation, truth and reclamation for women!

Menstruation – Inner Winter – the time of the Crone

The time of our bleeding, or moon time, is characterised by the shedding of the uterine lining. Hormone levels drop, and a natural detoxification process occurs.

It is a time of dreaminess and inner reflection where stillness, solitude, deep restoration and leaning more into the feminine ‘being’ energy can be beneficial and supportive. It’s a potent time for journeying and visualisation, and we may receive powerful downloads if we prioritise and create space to simply be.

Some of the ways Cacao can support your Inner Winter include:

  • Offering Comfort and Nurturing – the ritual of creating your ceremonial cacao offers a soothing and nourishing space for women to honour their cyclical nature and body rhythms.
  • Supporting Connection to and Release of Emotions – cacao ceremony, whether solo or with other women, enables a safe and sacred space for women to process and release any stagnant emotions or stress.
  • Easing Discomfort – with its amazing anti-inflammatory properties, cacao may help ease menstrual cramps and discomfort that some women experience during their moon time.
  • Mineral Support – rich in iron, a daily ceremonial cacao during this phase helps prevent iron depletion, or anaemia, as we lose blood.

The archetype of the Crone governs your Moon Bleeding time - and if you create space for her, she will offer you the gift of deep wisdom and insight. Her energy is one of deep knowing and acceptance, letting go and completion. She encourages honouring the renewal available during the dark.

Attuning to our inner rhythms offers an extraordinary perspective on the transformative powers of the menstrual cycle. It’s a pathway on how to honour ourselves throughout the month, and with cacao as our trusted and supportive ally, we can truly celebrate and reclaim the profound wisdom inherent in the menstrual cycle.

Cacao for Pregnancy, Birth and Motherhood

Ceremonial Cacao is a potent birth ally and deserves a journal solely dedicated to the powerful initiation that is birth and Motherhood. Luckily, we’ve already created one, so head over to read our in-depth journal on Supporting Motherhood with Cacao.

Cacao for Amenorrhea, Perimenopause and Menopause

But what if I currently have no cycle, or am in perimenopause or menopause?

Let’s start with Amenorrhea and how cacao can help.

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is when a woman of fertile years is not menstruating for a variety of reasons. Cacao can be beneficial as a support for amenorrhea because:

  • It has high levels of antioxidants (which help mitigate oxidative stress) and minerals, iron and magnesium being especially supportive for hormonal and blood health.
  • This condition can be a very challenging experience for women, and stress can exacerbate it. The stress-relieving endorphins present in cacao can support emotional balance and reduce stress-related hormonal disruptions.
  • Cacao’s mood-enhancing qualities support the psychological impact this condition may have. The theobromine in cacao can improve mood and energy levels.

While not a cure for amenorrhea, cacao can serve as a valuable ally.

Perimenopause and Menopause

Perimenopause and menopause are significant transitions, or Rites of Passage, that women experience generally in the Autumn of their lives. Ceremonial Cacao is a powerful ally for women seeking natural support during these hormonal shifts and the complexities they may experience, offering a vast array of physical, mental and emotional support.

This is a vast topic, and one that we’re in the process of writing a more in-depth journal about, as it definitely requires and deserves space. However, what we will say is this -

Ceremonial Cacao is rich in essential nutrients, offers antioxidant properties and promotes cardiovascular health, enhances mood and emotional wellbeing, improves cognitive function and provides stress relief and relaxation – plus a whole lot more!

We believe that by including this ancient remedy in your daily rhythms, women can navigate the changes and potential challenges of this stage with more ease, comfort, support and grace.

Cacao for All Phases of a Woman’s Life

By weaving together ancient and modern ceremonial cacao practices, women have the possibility and opportunity to live in a more grounded, connected, harmonious, and empowered way with their inherent cyclic nature, whether that’s with their menstrual cycle or the greater cyclical and archetypal nature of their life.

No matter your approach, the use of cacao, as a potent plant ally, provides a beautiful and holistic pathway to embracing and honouring the natural, innate flow of a woman’s being and her cyclical rhythms.

We’ve absolutely loved diving into the rich topic of cycles and cacao with you, and we hope you’ve received some insight and support. We’d LOVE to hear about your experience of incorporating cacao into your cyclical rhythms, so let us know in the comments below.

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