Methods of treating a gastrointestinal spasm in a subject are provided. The methods can include administering an effective amount of a formulation to treat the gastrointestinal spasm, the formulation having a tannin combined with a hydrogen donor in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient as a binding pair, the tannin releasing in an oxidized state from the hydrogen donor after oral administration of the formulation in the subject; wherein, the composition at least inhibits a gastrointestinal spasm in the subject when compared to a second subject in a control group in which the composition was not administered.