Spearmint Oil
40mg per servingA gentle intestinal antispasmodic that complements peppermint for smooth muscle relaxation.
Overview
What it is
Spearmint oil is extracted from Mentha spicata leaves and contains carvone as its primary bioactive compound, unlike peppermint which is menthol-dominant. Carvone provides antispasmodic effects that are gentler than menthol, making spearmint an ideal complement in a dual-mint approach. In Feast, spearmint oil is enteric-coated to bypass the stomach and release in the small intestine.
Mechanism
How it works
Carvone acts as a calcium channel antagonist on intestinal smooth muscle, reducing the amplitude and frequency of contractions that cause post-meal cramping and discomfort. By blocking calcium influx into smooth muscle cells, carvone prevents the excessive contractions that produce intestinal spasms. The enteric coating ensures the oil reaches the small intestine intact, where it can act directly on the smooth muscle tissue responsible for post-meal cramping.
Why it helps
Key benefits
Relaxes intestinal smooth muscle through calcium channel antagonism
Reduces post-meal cramping and intestinal discomfort
Provides gentler antispasmodic action than peppermint alone
Enteric-coated for targeted intestinal release
Evidence
The research
Antispasmodic effect of carvone on intestinal smooth muscle
Souza FVM, da Rocha MB, de Souza DP, Marçal RM. · Planta Medica (2013)
Carvone demonstrated significant antispasmodic activity on intestinal smooth muscle preparations, with effects mediated through calcium channel blockade and comparable in magnitude to established antispasmodic agents.
Chemical composition and pharmacological activities of Mentha spicata essential oil
Mahboubi M. · Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (2021)
Comprehensive review confirmed spearmint oil's antispasmodic, carminative, and anti-inflammatory properties, with carvone identified as the primary compound responsible for smooth muscle relaxation.
Dosage
40mg per serving
Why this dose
Spearmint oil is used at 40mg as a supporting antispasmodic alongside the primary 130mg peppermint oil dose. This ratio reflects the complementary role of carvone — providing additional smooth muscle relaxation through a different mechanism than menthol, without the intensity that higher doses of spearmint could bring.
The formula
Why it matters
A single antispasmodic can help, but intestinal smooth muscle responds to multiple pathways. By combining spearmint (carvone, calcium channel blockade) with peppermint (menthol, direct smooth muscle relaxation), Feast targets post-meal spasms through two complementary mechanisms. This dual-mint approach provides broader intestinal comfort than either oil alone.
Works with
Peppermint Oil
Spearmint and peppermint target intestinal smooth muscle through different mechanisms — carvone via calcium channels, menthol via direct relaxation — for broader antispasmodic coverage.
Fennel Seed Oil
Spearmint relaxes intestinal smooth muscle while fennel reduces gas formation — addressing both spasm-driven and gas-driven post-meal discomfort.