11K views · 204 reactions | The chaste tree, also known as the Vitex...

Vitex agnus castus, or chaste tree, is a Mediterranean shrub (feels more like a small tree to me) with an interesting history. In ancient Greece it was dedicated to Hera and Demeter and used in rituals that symbolized purity, renewal, and the cycles of life. The Latin name means chaste lamb, a reflection of its long connection to virtue and restraint. During the Middle Ages monks grew Vitex in monastery gardens and used the peppery seeds in their food, believing it helped them remain celibate, w