NOW Peppermint Gels with Ginger & Fennel, Enteric, 90ct Review
#4 of 10 · Best bulk value✓ Label verified · Supplement Facts read Sep 7, 2026Real retailer photo, cut out. Label unedited.
Buy it. A budget brand getting the fundamentals right — the best bulk value. Genuinely enteric-coated (far better for IBS than the non-enteric budget bottles), a generous 362 mg peppermint dose per serving plus ginger and fennel for gas and bloating, backed by NOW's consistent in-house QC and GMP manufacturing — all at one of the lowest per-softgel prices on the list (~$0.13).
$12 / month$0.13 / softgel
Why It Scores 8.7 — And The Label Line Behind Each Number
Enteric coating / gut-targeted delivery
40% of scoreA genuine enteric coat that releases in the intestine, not the stomach — the essential gut-targeting, and the feature that separates it decisively from the non-enteric budget bottles. It's a standard single coat rather than IBgard's SST microspheres or Heather's 50%-extra coat, so it sits a notch below those on delivery sophistication, but it does the core job correctly at a budget price, which is exactly its appeal.
- Active form
- Enteric-coated softgel — releases in the intestine
Clinical-dose alignment + label honesty
25% of scoreA generous 362 mg peppermint oil per serving — above the ~187 mg classic softgel — plus 35.2 mg ginger oil and 38.6 mg fennel oil, with all three stated. The dose is comfortably in (indeed above) the effective range. The minor caveat is reading the panel to confirm whether 362 mg is per softgel or per 2-softgel serving, and that the combination means you can't isolate peppermint.
- Per serving
- 362 mg peppermint oil + 35.2 mg ginger oil + 38.6 mg fennel oil (1-2 softgels, 1-3×/day)
Third-party testing + manufacturing quality
15% of scoreAmong the best on the list. NOW's in-house QC labs are some of the most consistent in the supplement industry, the facility is GMP-certified, and the product is non-GMO, with decades of household-brand trust. For a budget-priced product this manufacturing rigor is well above what the price suggests — a genuine differentiator.
- Testing
- NOW in-house QC labs, GMP-certified facility, non-GMO
Cost per effective dose
12% of scoreNear the top of the category. At roughly $0.13 per softgel it's one of the lowest per-softgel prices on the entire list, and unlike the cheaper non-enteric bottles, this is a real enteric dose — so it's genuinely cheap per gut-delivered dose, not just cheap per pill. The 90-count bottle adds a long bulk runway. Excellent value.
- Bottle
- 90 softgels · long bulk runway at typical dosing
- Price
- ~$12 / month = ~$0.13 per softgel
Real-world IBS/bloating response + tolerability
8% of scoreGood real-world fit: it delivers the evidence-backed enteric peppermint active (Khanna 2014, Ford 2008) plus ginger and fennel for the gas/bloating symptoms peppermint alone doesn't target. Solid for the bloating-dominant budget buyer; it scores below the trialed IBgard and the extra-coat Heather's because its delivery is standard and the carminatives carry lighter evidence than peppermint.
- More Specs
- Carminatives
- Ginger and fennel oils target gas and bloating
- Brand
- NOW Foods — decades of household-brand trust, consistent QC
- Best for
- Bulk-value buyers who want enteric peppermint plus carminatives cheaply
Label verified. Every figure read from the Supplement Facts photo, Sep 7, 2026.
Marketing Claims Vs. Reality
Enteric-coated for targeted release in the intestine.
A genuine enteric coat that releases in the intestine rather than the stomach — the essential gut-targeting the category requires, and what separates it from the non-enteric budget bottles. Correctly applied and the product's core strength at its price.
362 mg of peppermint oil per serving plus ginger and fennel.
All three oils and their amounts are stated on the supplement-facts panel, and 362 mg peppermint is a generous dose above the classic ~187 mg softgel. Transparent multi-oil labeling; just confirm per-softgel vs per-serving on the panel.
Ginger and fennel support healthy digestion and ease gas.
Ginger and fennel are traditional carminatives reasonably aimed at gas and bloating and are well tolerated — but their IBS-specific clinical evidence is far weaker than peppermint's. The addition is sensible and plausibly helpful, but rests on traditional use more than RCT data.
Manufactured in NOW's GMP facility with in-house quality testing.
Consistent with NOW's well-documented in-house QC labs and GMP-certified, non-GMO manufacturing — among the most consistent quality control in the industry, and a genuine differentiator for a budget-priced product.
Gentle, non-irritating peppermint relief.
True for intended whole-softgel use because the enteric coat keeps the oil out of the stomach — but it's a standard single coat (less reflux-tolerant than Heather's extra coat #3), and peppermint can still aggravate reflux in people with significant GERD. Accurate for most users; not a guarantee for reflux-disease patients.
What Our Test Actually Found
The enteric coat is what makes a budget price legitimate here
The trap in the budget tier is bottles that are cheap precisely because they skip the enteric coating — they release in the stomach, work poorly for IBS, and cause heartburn (Nutricost #10 is the cautionary example). NOW avoids that trap: it's genuinely enteric-coated at one of the lowest per-softgel prices on the list. That single fact is why it's a real value rather than a false economy. A cheap non-enteric bottle isn't cheap per effective dose; a cheap enteric one like NOW actually is.
It covers two symptom clusters at a bulk price
Like Heather's Tummy Tamers, NOW pairs peppermint with ginger and fennel, so it addresses both the cramp/pain axis (peppermint, well-evidenced) and the gas/bloating axis (carminatives, traditional). The difference is positioning: Heather's tunes the formula for reflux sensitivity with a 50%-extra coat and charges more; NOW delivers the same broad idea at the lowest per-softgel cost in a 90-count bottle. For a buyer who wants gas-and-bloating coverage and value over maximum reflux protection, NOW is the efficient route.
NOW's QC punches above the price
The quietly important strength here is manufacturing. NOW runs some of the most consistent in-house QC labs in the supplement industry, in a GMP-certified facility, with non-GMO sourcing and decades of household-brand reputation. For a product this cheap, that level of quality control is unusual and meaningful — it's the reason a budget peppermint from NOW is trustworthy in a way a generic value-house bottle (Carlyle #8) isn't as easily verified. You're getting brand-grade QC at a budget price.
Read the panel to nail the serving size
The one thing to check before dosing: NOW lists 362 mg peppermint per serving and a serving of 1-2 softgels, so confirm on the supplement-facts panel whether that 362 mg is delivered by one softgel or two, and dose accordingly to land in the effective range. It's a generous dose either way, but precise dosing matters for hitting the clinical window consistently. Start at the lower end, take it 30-90 minutes before meals, swallow whole, and titrate to symptoms.
Wrong pick if you want isolated, exactly-quantified peppermint
NOW's value comes from bundling — peppermint plus ginger and fennel in a fixed combination — which is exactly wrong for a buyer who wants peppermint alone with a precisely stated dose. For that, Nature's Way Pepogest (#2) is the clean choice at a clearly labeled 0.2 mL (~187 mg). NOW is the pick when you want the broader gas-and-bloating coverage cheaply and don't mind (or actively want) the extra oils; it's not the pick when you want a single-ingredient, dose-pure peppermint.
Full analysis: all pros & cons (8), buy if / skip if
- Genuinely enteric-coated — far better for IBS than the non-enteric budget bottles at a similar price
- Generous 362 mg peppermint dose per serving plus ginger and fennel for gas and bloating
- NOW's in-house QC is among the most consistent in the industry, with decades of household-brand trust
- One of the lowest costs per softgel on the entire list — excellent bulk value
- 90-count bottle gives a long runway at typical 1-3/day dosing
- Combination formula — you can't isolate a pure peppermint dose if that's all you want
- Standard enteric coat (not an extra coat or SST), so very reflux-sensitive users may prefer #1 or #2
- Ginger and fennel carry far less IBS trial evidence than peppermint — the peppermint is doing the heavy lifting
- You want a genuinely enteric peppermint at the lowest possible per-softgel cost
- You want gas-and-bloating support (ginger + fennel) bundled with peppermint's antispasmodic effect
- You trust NOW's in-house QC and want a 90-count bulk runway
- You're upgrading from a non-enteric budget bottle and want the right form cheaply
- You want isolated peppermint with a precisely stated dose — Pepogest's clean 0.2 mL (#3) is the choice
- You're reflux-prone and need maximum heartburn protection — Heather's extra coat (#3) or IBgard's SST (#1)
- You want the strongest single-product evidence — IBgard (#1) has its own RCT
Genuinely enteric-coated (far better for IBS than the non-enteric budget bottles), a generous 362 mg peppermint dose per serving plus ginger and fennel for gas and bloating, backed by NOW's consistent in-house QC and GMP manufacturing — all at one of the lowest per-softgel prices on the list (~$0.13). The only reasons to climb higher: IBgard's evidence and SST delivery (#1), Heather's extra coat for severe sensitivity (#2), or single-oil simplicity (#3).
NOW Peppermint Gels are the proof that a budget brand can get the fundamentals of a peppermint oil right. The category's make-or-break feature is the enteric coating — and unlike the cheap non-enteric bottles that release in the stomach and cause heartburn, these are genuinely enteric-coated. On top of that they carry a generous peppermint dose and fold in ginger and fennel, two carminatives that target the gas and bloating peppermint alone doesn't, all at one of the lowest per-softgel prices on the entire list. NOW's in-house QC labs are among the most consistent in the industry, backed by decades of household-brand trust. It's not the most-studied or the gentlest for severe reflux, but as a correctly enteric, well-made peppermint at minimal cost, it's the value workhorse. Here's how it scores on the four numbers that decide a peppermint oil's worth.
The bulk-value workhorse — proof a budget brand can get the fundamentals right.
NOW Peppermint Gels are the value pick of the list. They get the one thing that decides the category right — a genuine enteric coat that releases in the intestine, not the stomach — and they do it at one of the lowest per-softgel prices anywhere here, in a 90-count bottle, with NOW's industry-leading in-house QC behind them. The added ginger and fennel broaden the formula into gas-and-bloating support, and the peppermint dose is generous. For anyone upgrading from a non-enteric budget bottle, or just wanting a trustworthy enteric peppermint cheaply, this is the efficient answer. The reasons to spend more are specific: IBgard (#1) for the strongest single-product evidence and SST delivery, Heather's Tummy Tamers (#3) for the extra coat if peppermint heartburn is your issue, or Nature's Way Pepogest (#2) for single-oil simplicity with a precisely stated dose. But none of those is cheaper, and NOW gives up surprisingly little for the price. Confirm the serving size on the panel, take it 30-90 minutes before meals, swallow whole, titrate to symptoms, and give it a couple of weeks before judging it.
If This Doesn’t Fit — Try These
01IBgard
If you want the peppermint oil with the strongest IBS-specific evidence and the lowest heartburn risk, IBgard is the pick.
02Nature's Way Pepogest
Pepogest is the value gold standard and the smartest default for most buyers.
03Heather's Tummy Tamers
Heather's Tummy Tamers is the sensitive-stomach answer.
Quick Answers
Is a budget brand like NOW actually good enough for IBS?
In this case, yes — because NOW gets the one thing that matters right. The category's gate is the enteric coating, and NOW Peppermint Gels are genuinely enteric-coated, which immediately puts them far ahead of the non-enteric budget bottles (like Nutricost #10) that release in the stomach and cause heartburn. On top of that, NOW's in-house QC labs are among the most consistent in the supplement industry, the facility is GMP-certified, and the product is non-GMO, with decades of household-brand trust. It's not the most-studied option (that's IBgard #1) or the gentlest for severe reflux (Heather's #3), but as a correctly enteric, well-manufactured peppermint at a rock-bottom price, it's a legitimately good buy.
What does '362 mg peppermint per serving' mean for dosing?
It means a serving delivers a generous peppermint dose — above the ~187 mg classic softgel — plus 35.2 mg ginger oil and 38.6 mg fennel oil. NOW lists the serving as 1-2 softgels taken 1-3 times daily, so read the supplement-facts panel to see whether 362 mg is per softgel or per 2-softgel serving and dose accordingly. Practically: take it 30-90 minutes before meals, swallow whole (never chew or open — that breaks the enteric coat and frees the oil in your stomach), start at the lower end, and titrate to your symptoms. The peppermint dose is comfortably in the effective range; the ginger and fennel add carminative support for gas and bloating.
Why add ginger and fennel — are they doing anything?
They're carminatives that target a different symptom than peppermint does. Peppermint is the antispasmodic — menthol relaxes intestinal smooth muscle via calcium-channel blockade to ease the cramping and pain behind IBS (the mechanism behind Khanna 2014 and Ford 2008). Ginger and fennel are traditional carminatives aimed at gas and bloating. So the blend broadens the formula from a pure cramp/pain antispasmodic into something that also addresses gas and post-meal bloating. The honest caveat: peppermint carries by far the strongest IBS trial evidence; ginger and fennel are reasonable, well-tolerated additions but rest more on traditional use than RCT data. The peppermint is the engine.
How is this different from Heather's Tummy Tamers (#3), which also has ginger and fennel?
Both are enteric peppermint blends with ginger and fennel, but they're tuned differently. Heather's Tummy Tamers uses a 50%-extra enteric coat specifically for reflux-sensitive people who've gotten heartburn from standard softgels — that's its whole reason for existing, and it costs more per softgel. NOW uses a standard (still genuine) enteric coat at one of the lowest per-softgel prices on the list, in a 90-count bottle. So if your specific problem is peppermint heartburn, pay up for Heather's extra coat. If you just want the same enteric-peppermint-plus-carminatives idea at the best bulk value, NOW is the cheaper route to it.
Can I isolate the peppermint if I don't want the ginger and fennel?
No — it's a fixed combination formula, so you can't separate out the peppermint dose. That's the main trade-off versus a single-oil pick. If you specifically want peppermint alone, with a precisely stated dose and nothing else, Nature's Way Pepogest (#2) is the cleaner choice — a 0.2 mL (~187 mg) single-oil enteric softgel. NOW's value proposition is the opposite: it bundles peppermint with carminatives for gas and bloating at a low price, which is great if you want that broader coverage and a non-issue if you don't mind the extra oils, but wrong if you need an isolated, exactly-quantified peppermint dose.
Will it cause heartburn, and who should avoid it?
The enteric coat is there to prevent it — a correctly swallowed softgel releases the oil in the intestine, not the stomach, which is what minimizes the reflux plain peppermint causes. But it's a standard single coat (not Heather's extra coat or IBgard's SST), and peppermint inherently relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, so it's not heartburn-proof for everyone. If you have significant GERD, a hiatal hernia, or active reflux disease, be cautious, consider the extra-coat option (#2), and clear it with a clinician. And always swallow it whole — chewing or opening the softgel dumps the oil in your stomach and causes exactly the heartburn the coat exists to prevent.
Sources & Further Reading
4 peer-reviewed sources, each linked to PubMed
- [1] Khanna 2014 PMID 24100754 — Peppermint oil for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic review and meta-analysis of nine RCTs (726 patients): enteric-coated peppermint oil was significantly superior to placebo for global IBS symptom improvement (RR 2.23) and abdominal pain (RR 2.14). Validates the enteric peppermint active at the core of NOW's blend.
- [2] Ford 2008 PMID 19008265 — Effect of fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. Landmark BMJ meta-analysis: peppermint oil was the most effective of fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil for IBS, with a number-needed-to-treat of about 2.5. Establishes the peppermint component of NOW's blend as a front-line IBS therapy.
- [3] Cash 2016 PMID 26319955 — A Novel Delivery System of Peppermint Oil Is an Effective Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms. 4-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial of a small-intestine-targeted sustained-release peppermint oil: 40% reduction in Total IBS Symptom Score at 4 weeks versus 24.3% on placebo. Underscores that delivery to the intestine — which NOW's enteric coat provides — is what makes peppermint effective.
- [4] Alammar 2019 PMID 30654773 — The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data. Meta-analysis of 12 RCTs (835 patients): peppermint oil significantly better than placebo for global IBS symptoms (RR 2.39) and abdominal pain (RR 1.78), with no significant excess of adverse events. Confirms the safety and efficacy of the peppermint active in NOW's blend.
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