[thomasskis]

I’m not sure it’s directly psychoactive as he stated in the post, it does agonise the TRPV1 receptor; but that doesn’t directly create a sense euphoria. When agonised it triggers the production of endogenous anandamides and those anandamides bind to the CB1 receptor which is responsible for euphoric feelings.

Vanillin does the same thing. So does dancing and some forms of yoga.

But foods like cacao (or significantly dark chocolate) directly contain anandamides which cause euphoria.

Cacao also has re-uptake inhibitors that make the euphoric feeling last a lot longer. This is why ancient civilisations like the Olmecs, Aztecs, and Mayans would mix drinks of cacao, vanilla, and capsaicin. And modern Mexican chocolate often mixes in pepper. Without Cacao the anandamide induced euphoria is very short lived.