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Carminative herbs prevent gas from forming in the intestines and also assist in expulsion of gas.

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Essential oils, such as peppermint and fennel oil, can help patients with intestinal gas, spasm, colic, dyspepsia, from colic, and altered bowel habit caused by irritable bowel syndrome; colostomy patients and patients undergoing instrumentation of the gastrointestinal tract, such as lower endoscopy, enema administration, detoxification programs using colonic "washouts" and contrast radiology of the lower gastrointestinal tract, such as barium enema examination. Essential oils can offer a natural, effective, and safe alternative to prescription medications for the management of functional disease of the gastrointestinal tract.

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Fennel (Funicular Vulgare), which is commonly known as large, wild, or sweet fennel, is described in herbal literature as possessing stomachic, carminative, pectoral, diuretic, diaphoretic, and aromatic properties for medicinal use. In 1994, Kloss described fennel as a "thoroughly tried" remedy for gas, acid stomach, gout, cramps, and colic. Ground fennel added to food has been demonstrated to prevent gas in both stomach and bowels and has been proposed as a remedy for childhood bowel colic. The essential oil of fennel has carminative qualities that are at least as effective as the qualities of peppermint oil and is described as an excellent treatment for obesity.

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Peppermint and fennel oils have carminative effects that are documented. The term "carminative" was coined to describe the overall effect of several aromatic essential oils on digestive function. Peppermint oil is an example of an essential oil that has very specific effects in the relief' of flatulence and associated dyspeptic complaints. Peppermint oil contains menthol, which is a cyclical monoterpene that is rapidly absorbed from the upper portions of the small intestine when taken orally. Because the action of most essential oils. including peppermint oil, occurs almost exclusively on a local basis, it is often necessary to deliver the carminative preparation in a delayed-release formulation. Delaying the release of essential oils in the gut results in maximum biopharmacologic effects on the lower portions of the intestine.

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