How Ceremonial Cacao Supports Women Through Every Phase of Their Menstrual Cycle
Ceremonial cacao offers a gentle, supportive presence throughout the menstrual cycle. She works with your body’s natural rhythms to support energy, mood, focus, and emotional release — helping you feel more connected to yourself at every phase.
Each phase of the cycle has unique qualities, and cacao contains compounds that complement these changes, making her a powerful ally.
🌑 Bleed Phase: Softness, Comfort, and Mood Support
During menstruation, the body is releasing and moving inward. It’s a time for rest, reflection, and gentle care.
Cacao is rich in magnesium, which supports muscle relaxation and eases tension. The warmth of a cup can feel like a nurturing hug from the inside. Phenylethylamine, another compound in cacao, helps support mood and emotional stability, making these days easier to navigate.
Benefits of cacao during the bleed:
Reduces tension and cramping (magnesium)
Supports emotional balance (phenylethylamine)
Encourages a nurturing ritual of rest and reflection
🌱 Follicular Phase: Clarity, Focus, and Energy
After the bleed, energy begins to rise. This is a time of renewal and forward momentum.
The theobromine in cacao provides gentle, sustained energy and mental clarity, without the jitters of caffeine. It helps you feel grounded and present, allowing you to move with intention and step into the rising energy of this phase.
Benefits of cacao during the follicular phase:
Boosts gentle energy and alertness (theobromine)
Enhances focus and mental clarity
Supports mindful action and intention-setting
🌕 Ovulation Phase: Creativity, Radiance, and Connection
Ovulation often brings brightness, expression, and outward energy. You may feel more social, creative, and confident.
Cacao contains anandamide, known as the “bliss molecule,” which supports joy and emotional openness. Phenylethylamine enhances mood and connection, helping you feel centred while embracing the fullness of this expressive phase.
Benefits of cacao during ovulation:
Supports emotional openness and joy (anandamide & phenylethylamine)
Encourages creativity and self-expression
Enhances connection with yourself and others
🌘 Luteal Phase: Grounding, Emotional Release, and Comfort
As the cycle winds down, emotions can become more present and energy may fluctuate. This phase invites self-care and support.
Cacao’s magnesium and phenylethylamine help calm the nervous system, encourage emotional release, and provide gentle energy when fatigue sets in. A warm cup can create comfort and steadiness, allowing emotions to move through rather than be held in.
Benefits of cacao during the luteal phase:
Supports emotional processing (phenylethylamine)
Relieves tension and promotes relaxation (magnesium)
Offers comfort and gentle energy
Cacao and the Lunar Connection
Your menstrual cycle mirrors the moon’s rhythm — rising, full, waning, and resting. By bringing ceremonial cacao into your cycle, you tune into this natural flow, honouring the sacred rhythm of energy, reflection, and renewal.
Across all phases, cacao helps support:
Mood and emotional balance
Gentle energy and focus
Reflection and connection to yourself
No matter where you are in your cycle, cacao can bring you back to yourself and offer a small ritual of care and presence.
How to Include Cacao in Your Cycle
Bleed: Slow morning cup to nurture and soothe
Follicular: Mindful ritual to set intention and support focus
Ovulation: Boost for creativity, joy, and connection
Luteal: Afternoon or evening cup to ground and comfort
Even a few intentional moments with cacao each week can help you feel steadier, more attuned, and deeply connected to yourself.
Closing Thoughts
Ceremonial cacao moves with you through every phase, supporting mood, energy, and emotional release. By drinking cacao mindfully, you create a ritual that honours your body’s natural rhythm, allowing you to move through your cycle with care, presence, and balance.