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Revision as of 21:44, 24 December 2006 editHeelop (talk | contribs)555 edits No one is "suggesting" this. See discussion for explanation.← Previous edit Revision as of 21:19, 26 December 2006 edit undoHeelop (talk | contribs)555 edits Edward Uthman, M.D. says he can't see this. This proves he does indeed lack the training.Next edit →
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== Background == == Background ==


A non-medical concept invented by ] Richard Anderson N.D. N.M.D: A word invented by ] Richard Anderson N.D. N.M.D:


:"I coined the term mucoid plaque, meaning a film of mucus, to describe the unhealthy accumulation of abnormal mucous matter on the walls of the intestines. Conventional medicine knows this as a layering of mucin or glycoproteins (made up of 20 amino acids and 50% carbohydrates) which are naturally and appropriately secreted by intestines as protection from acids and toxins." (''What is Mucoid Plaque?'', by Richard Anderson) :"I coined the term mucoid plaque, meaning a film of mucus, to describe the unhealthy accumulation of abnormal mucous matter on the walls of the intestines. Conventional medicine knows this as a layering of mucin or glycoproteins (made up of 20 amino acids and 50% carbohydrates) which are naturally and appropriately secreted by intestines as protection from acids and toxins." (''What is Mucoid Plaque?'', by Richard Anderson)

Richard Anderson claims that “clinical and anatomical studies from many papers and textbooks have demonstrated that mucoid plaque exists in the alimentary canal” (Anderson 60). The following is one of many examples that he gives:

:"The ‘mucosal barrier’: excess mucus covering the mucosal surface. Situations such as the one mentioned above are encountered quite often and, because of the lack of appreciation of surface details with the light microscope, are ascribed to so-called patchy lesions. . .Indeed, in such instances, the mucosal surface is covered with a rather thick layer of mucus. . .This layer of mucus, when adhering closely to the mucosal surface, probably functions as a barrier to membrane digestion and most likely also to absorption. This mucosal barrier has been observed in chronic nonspecific diarrhea, in giardiasis, in food intolerance, and particularly in cystic fibrosis where, with increasing age, the mucus layer becomes more pronounced and widespread. . .The increased production of intestinal mucus and its layering over the mucosal surface results in the formation of a physical barrier which should impair digestion and absorption of macro- and micronutrients, as well as of medications." --- Poley, J. Rainer. "The Scanning Electron Microscope: How Valuable In The Evaluation of Small Bowel Mucosal Pathology In Chronic Childhood Diarrhea?" ''Scanning Microscopy'' Vol. 5 No. 4 1991 page 1040.





The role of the colon is to absorb water and nutrients. A limited amount of bacterial fermentation and absorption of other substances goes on. The role of the colon is to absorb water and nutrients. A limited amount of bacterial fermentation and absorption of other substances goes on.


Richard Anderson claims that “clinical and anatomical studies from many papers and textbooks have demonstrated that mucoid plaque exists in the alimentary canal” (Anderson 60).



A search of the ]'s ] ] does not return any research that uses the term at all, or in this way. It is a concept foreign to ] and more specifically ]. This is the natural result of the fact that gastroenterologists, ], ]s, and medical students doing dissections, operations, and ] ies do not encounter it. A search of the ]'s ] ] does not return any research that uses the term at all, or in this way. It is a concept foreign to ] and more specifically ]. This is the natural result of the fact that gastroenterologists, ], ]s, and medical students doing dissections, operations, and ] ies do not encounter it.

Revision as of 21:19, 26 December 2006

This article's factual accuracy is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Mucoid plaque or mucoid rope is an alleged thick coating of mucus-like material claimed to exist in the alimentary canals of most normal people. There is no mention of it in the medical literature, it is only found as a form of feces produced primarily by consumers of bowel-cleansing products based on psyllium seed husks (a gelling agent) and bentonite clay, and not by persons uninvolved with bowel cleansing practices. Supporters assert that doctors aren't trained to recognize it or use other names for it. It has been used in urban myths and is a phenomenon widely believed within holistic health circles.

Background

A word invented by naturopath Richard Anderson N.D. N.M.D:

"I coined the term mucoid plaque, meaning a film of mucus, to describe the unhealthy accumulation of abnormal mucous matter on the walls of the intestines. Conventional medicine knows this as a layering of mucin or glycoproteins (made up of 20 amino acids and 50% carbohydrates) which are naturally and appropriately secreted by intestines as protection from acids and toxins." (What is Mucoid Plaque?, by Richard Anderson)

Richard Anderson claims that “clinical and anatomical studies from many papers and textbooks have demonstrated that mucoid plaque exists in the alimentary canal” (Anderson 60). The following is one of many examples that he gives:

"The ‘mucosal barrier’: excess mucus covering the mucosal surface. Situations such as the one mentioned above are encountered quite often and, because of the lack of appreciation of surface details with the light microscope, are ascribed to so-called patchy lesions. . .Indeed, in such instances, the mucosal surface is covered with a rather thick layer of mucus. . .This layer of mucus, when adhering closely to the mucosal surface, probably functions as a barrier to membrane digestion and most likely also to absorption. This mucosal barrier has been observed in chronic nonspecific diarrhea, in giardiasis, in food intolerance, and particularly in cystic fibrosis where, with increasing age, the mucus layer becomes more pronounced and widespread. . .The increased production of intestinal mucus and its layering over the mucosal surface results in the formation of a physical barrier which should impair digestion and absorption of macro- and micronutrients, as well as of medications." --- Poley, J. Rainer. "The Scanning Electron Microscope: How Valuable In The Evaluation of Small Bowel Mucosal Pathology In Chronic Childhood Diarrhea?" Scanning Microscopy Vol. 5 No. 4 1991 page 1040.



The role of the colon is to absorb water and nutrients. A limited amount of bacterial fermentation and absorption of other substances goes on.



A search of the National Library of Medicine's PubMed database does not return any research that uses the term at all, or in this way. It is a concept foreign to medicine and more specifically gastroenterology. This is the natural result of the fact that gastroenterologists, pathologists, coroners, and medical students doing dissections, operations, and autopsy ies do not encounter it.

Anderson explains this absence of any description of this alleged condition by surgeons, gastroenterologists and anatomists by claiming that medical doctors are not trained to recognize the difference between mucoid plaque and the normal mucosa. “Until the mucoid plaque begins to mix with fecal matter, its color and texture may appear similar to healthy bowel mucosa,” he says (Anderson 66; 88). In his book, Richard Anderson cites numerous conventional scientific sources referring to intestinal mucus and claims they support his assertion (Anderson 59). None of them mention mucoid plaque.

Richard Anderson is in the business of selling books promoting this view and products to fix or remedy it.

Enemas, rigorous fasting and herbal treatments are said to expel the plaque, which then appears as a rope-like rubbery stool matching the shape and length of the large intestine.

Criticisms

A major objection is that this concept has never been described in the major medical journals, i.e. New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, Gastroenterology, et cetera.

Edward Uthman, M.D., a practicing pathologist and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Texas School of Medicine, has said on the basis of never having seen it in several thousand intestinal biopsies: "This is a complete fabrication with no anatomic basis."

Another practicing pathologist, Ed Friedlander, M.D., at Brown University, states, "As a pathologist, I have opened hundreds of colons and never seen anything like ‘toxic bowel settlement’." Furthermore, in reference to those pictures of mucoid plaque he says, "Sites they have shared include one depicting what I recognize to be a blood clot."

Advertisements for some products marketed to cleanse the colon of mucoid plaque claim that an autopsy of John Wayne after his death from cancer revealed that the famous American actor had over 40 pounds of this plaque/fecal material accumulated in his colon. In fact, an autopsy was never performed on John Wayne. Similar false claims are made about singer Elvis Presley. It is known that impaction of as little as a pound of fecal material will cause extreme pain and even bleeding. In 1994, an Israeli man sought medical attention because he was suffering from severe constipation two days after having eaten a large quantity of pomegranates. He refused to allow doctors to administer an enema, fled the hospital, and returned a week later in severe pain and bleeding from his rectum. This time the doctors operated to remove the impacted feces, which weighed half a kilogram or a little over a pound. Just one pound of impacted feces was causing extreme pain and rectal bleeding in this patient.

References

  1. ^ Urban myth on snopes.com
  2. Bowel Cleanse FAQ
  3. Richard Anderson's books
  4. Arise and Shine Herbal Products
  5. Gastroenterology (journal)
  6. Mucoid Plaque. Uthman, Edward
  7. Ed’s Guide to Alternative Therapies: Colonics. Friedlander, Ed
  8. "Pomegranate Feast Ends in Constipation." The Jerusalem Post 4 September 1994 (p. 2).

External links

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