Monk’s Pepper (Vitex agnus-castus) is a large shrub that grows in Mediterranean regions and Asia. Its berries contain substances – the so-called phyto-endorphins – that bind to the opioid receptor causing an analgesic effect and a sense of well-being. Monk’s Pepper berries were used in ancient Greece to treat injuries and inflammations. In the middle ages, monks used the dried berries and they probably experienced a sensation of well-being and happiness after consumption.
