My Hot Chocolate Experiment: Healing the SciWoo Way

Oct 25

4 min read

A Body That’s Been Through It

I’ve been experimenting lately, not in a “new recipe” kind of way, but in a “let’s see if I can outsmart my body” kind of way. Because let’s face it, I came with pain and discomfort pre-installed. Fibromyalgia, hypermobility, scoliosis in my upper back, lower back and minor neck damage, asthma, EOE, hypothyroidism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, uterine fibroids, and the occasional psoriasis and dermatitis. I’m an empath too, which means I don’t just feel my own stuff, I sometimes feel everyone else’s.

I’m the deluxe model, complete with inflammation, hormone quirks, and overactive energy from every angle.

So I started wondering: instead of just avoiding triggers, what if I added things that calm my system down?

Growing Up Natural Before It Was Trendy

As a kid, I was always told to go easy on acidic foods, tomatoes, oranges. Of course, we grew them on a fruit producing property, so that advice was extra annoying.

Mum was big on natural products and always meant well. My sister and I both had asthma, so she did everything she could to help us breathe easier. (We shared a room and, apparently, the wheeze!) Then my brother came along five years later and joined the respiratory club with bronchitis.

Why Hot Chocolate, Not Coffee

I’ve never been a coffee person. Maybe it’s the ADHD, stimulants don’t hype me up, in large doses they just make me tidy things. No chaos, no caffeine buzz, just me accidently vacuuming!

But hot chocolate? That’s comfort. That’s connection. And lately, it’s also become my experiment in anti-inflammatory alchemy.

Turning My Hot Chocolate into a Healing Potion

Here’s where things get witchy, in the best way. I started mixing anti-inflammatory spices into my morning hot chocolate, tiny dashes of chilli, cinnamon, and ginger, and a drizzle of pure maple syrup to tie it all together.

Chilli adds warmth and a gentle kick (go easy or you’ll regret it).
Cinnamon helps balance blood sugar and adds a cosy, sweet depth.
Ginger is my all-round hero for inflammation and digestion.
Maple syrup brings natural minerals and antioxidants, adding earthy sweetness without the sugar crash.

The best bit? It actually tastes good. Not café-sweet, not over-flavoured, just rich, balanced, and grounding.

Hot Chocolate Add-Ins: Nutritional & Body Benefits

Ingredient	Key Nutrients / Compounds	What It Does for the Body	Extra Notes
Chilli (Capsicum spp.)	Capsaicin, vitamin C, beta-carotene	Speeds up metabolism slightly, helps circulation, and can lower inflammation when used in small amounts. Gives a natural “heat” that may ease joint and muscle stiffness.	Too much can irritate reflux or sensitive digestion. A tiny pinch is enough.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum or cassia)	Polyphenols, manganese, fibre, cinnamaldehyde	Balances blood sugar, supports insulin sensitivity, and acts as a gentle antioxidant. Adds warmth without needing extra sugar.	Cassia has more coumarin (avoid large daily doses); Ceylon is the gentler option.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)	Gingerols, shogaols, vitamin B6, magnesium	Calms nausea, eases pain and inflammation, improves circulation and digestion, and boosts immunity.	Works well with both hot and cold drinks; fresh or powdered are equally effective.
Maple Syrup (Pure, Grade A or B)	Manganese, zinc, calcium, potassium, small antioxidant polyphenols	Natural sweetener that still delivers minerals. Gentler on blood sugar than white sugar, supports energy production, and adds depth of flavour.	Choose pure maple, not “maple-flavoured syrup”. Use ½–1 tsp per cup for balance.
Cacao (Organic, unsweetened)	Magnesium, iron, flavonoids, tryptophan	Boosts mood, relaxes muscles, improves blood flow, and offers strong antioxidant protection. Contains mild natural stimulants that lift focus without the crash of coffee.	Raw cacao retains more nutrients than heavily processed cocoa.

Swapping Tablets for Taste

Every night I take around ten tablets, and while I’ve never minded, it’s getting trickier as my EOE narrows my throat. So I figured: if I can drink my medicine, why not?

Herbs and spices are the original medicine anyway. It hit me how full-circle that is, we used to flavour our food for health, and now most people flavour it just for taste. Maybe it’s time to go back to the old ways.

Sounds like the “witches” were just the first holistic nutritionists.

A Nod to the Mayans

Turns out, the Mayans were way ahead of us. Thousands of years ago, they were already blending cacao with herbs and spices for both healing and ceremony.

They didn’t just drink it for pleasure; it was sacred. In Mayan and Aztec culture, cacao was called “the food of the gods.” It was used in rituals to open the heart, heighten awareness, and strengthen the body. Their recipes often included chili, vanilla, cinnamon, annatto, cornmeal, and honey or agave, all chosen for their energy, warmth, and vitality.

Cacao was believed to boost strength, endurance, and connection to spirit.
Chilli symbolised life force, circulation, and inner fire.
Vanilla and honey balanced the heat, inviting softness and sweetness into the ritual.
Cornmeal added grounding and nourishment, linking heaven and earth.

Modern science now backs much of what they instinctively knew. Cacao and chilli both increase circulation, release endorphins, and reduce inflammation. Vanilla contains calming compounds that interact with serotonin. Even the act of drinking it warm helps the nervous system shift into rest mode.

So when I stir my version of hot chocolate with cacao, spices, rose, and maple syrup, it feels like a quiet continuation of that ancient tradition, a little everyday ceremony in a cup. They understood that something could be both delicious and medicinal. I’m just catching up.

SciWoo Reflection

This isn’t just a drink anymore; it’s a morning ritual of intention. A blend of ancient wisdom (My guides influence no doubt!), a dash of ADHD logic, and a sprinkle of modern health science.

Because if most of our illnesses stem from inflammation, then every sip of something soothing is a quiet rebellion against pain. Your mind & body’s earnt it. -Ang

Oct 25

4 min read