That’s an interesting question. I can’t even imagine it was hunger as even kgs of green leaves won’t satiate a family’s hunger. Maybe it was an attempt at checking if the plant could cure when cooked? Maybe it was believed that all stinging and poisonous plants had magical properties? Who knows.
I don’t know, I don’t think of sex as chilling. Just like I don’t see sport as chilling. Chilling should be more calm and less purpose-driven.