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'''Mucoid plaque''' or '''mucoid rope''' is an alleged thick coating of mucus-like material in the alimentary canal. Supporters propose that doctors aren't trained to recognize it or use other names for it. Critics contend that there is no mention of it in the medical literature and that it is found only as a unique form of feces produced by those who use bowel cleansing products, especially those containing ] and ] clay. It has been used in ]s <ref></ref> and is a phenomenon widely believed within ] circles. <ref></ref> '''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. Critics contend that there is no mention of it in the medical literature and that it is only found as a unique form of feces produced primarily by consumers of bowel-cleansing products based on ] (a gelling agent) and ] 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 ]s <ref></ref> and is a phenomenon widely believed within ] circles. <ref name="CureZone"></ref>


==Background== == Background ==

Supporters claim it develops from unhealthy, usually ], lifestyle factors such as eating meat and processed foods, taking pharmaceutical medicine, ] and ]. {{citation needed}}

Mucoid plaque is claimed to inhibit the body's ability to properly digest food and metabolize ]s by blocking ], constricting the passage of stools and accumulating toxins that pass into the bloodstream. A variety of claimed symptoms result, such as ], ], and ]. Pharmaceuticals are also said to become lodged in the plaque, active ingredients leaching into the body years after they were taken. {{citation needed}}

⚫ ]s, rigorous ] and herbal treatments are said to expel the plaque, which appears as a rope-like rubbery stool matching the shape and length of the large intestine.{{fact}}

Other alternative medicine practitioners have used other names. Robert Gray referred to it as ''mucoid matter'', Victor Earl Irons and Bernard Jensen referred to it as ''toxic mucous lining'' or ''layer'', and John R. Christopher referred to it as ''catarrh'' or simply ''mucus''.{{fact}}

==Proponent View==

On page 155 of a conventional textbook of gastroenterology titled ''Color Atlas of the Digestive System'', there is a picture of a long, black, ropey stool taking on the shape of the GI tract that came out of a young woman with irritable bowel syndrome. The author comments:"A particularly bizarre stool from a young woman with the irritable bowel syndrome." (Pounder 155).This was not removed by any cleansing program and is documented in a conventional source. Richard Anderson says that this is an example of mucoid plaque (Anderson)

In his book, Richard Anderson cites numerous conventional scientific sources that he says describes the phenomenon he calls mucoid plaque.(Anderson 59; 74). Amoung the conventional sources he cites are the following:

*“The ‘mucosal barrier’: excess mucus covering the mucosal surface. . .Indeed, in such instances, the mucosal surface is covered with a rather thick layer of mucus. . .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 1040)

*“Intestinal mucins are complex glycoproteins which are secreted from goblet cells, and form a gel-like covering over the mucosal surface. . .Implications for diseases such as cystic fibrosis, peptic ulcer, malignancy and inflammatory bowel disease are briefly discussed. . .The present review will be concerned with the major organic component(s) of mucus, namely the large glycoprotein mucins of the intestine. . .Following its release from goblet cells, mucin normally forms a continuous blanket over and between the villi. The blanket is composed of a randomstructured fibrillar network arranged in layers. In vivo it forms a loose gel, with the complexity and thickness of the meshwork increasing as the volume of secreted mucin increases. . .in vivo, a situation of lowered intestinal pH and/or increased luminal serum proteins might cause normal mucins to undergo a pathological transformation into either a viscous gel or an insoluble precipitate. . .These findings suggest that mucin secretion may be a physiologic mechanism by which harmful toxins or immune complexes are cleared from the intestinal surface. . .Despite widely held assumptions about the function of secreted mucus, such as lubrication and protection of surface epithelial cells, direct evidence of an in vivo function for mucus does not exist. . .intestinal mucin may not serve to protect the mucosa against proteolytic enzymes” (Forstner).

Anderson explains 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).

Anderson claims that because there are many different names used by medical scientists to describe this phenomenon,{{fact}} he consolidated them under one convenient term. Robert Gray also explained his reasoning for such a novel terminology: “In a book such as this, the author is not trying to communicate with biochemists and other life scientists. The aim here is to communicate to the common person what he or she needs to know about proper health care. To use precise technical terminology in such a discussion would only overwhelm the average person and defeat the purpose of what is being said”.{{fact}}



==Opponent View==


A non-medical concept invented by ] Richard Anderson N.D. N.M.D: A non-medical concept invented by ] Richard Anderson N.D. N.M.D:
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The role of the colon is to absorb water and nutrients. A limited amount of bacterial fermentation and absorption of other substances goes on, but the suggestion that thickening the lining of the colon would inhibit digestion is unsupported by medical evidence. The experience of those whose colon does not absorb (eg those with ] is of drastic diarrhoea as the volume passing through is not diminished sufficiently. The role of the colon is to absorb water and nutrients. A limited amount of bacterial fermentation and absorption of other substances goes on, but the suggestion that thickening the lining of the colon would inhibit digestion is unsupported by medical evidence. The experience of those whose colon does not absorb (eg those with ] is of drastic diarrhoea as the volume passing through is not diminished sufficiently.
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). As an example, he points to a reference to the gastric mucosa in the 7th edition of ''Textbook of Medical Physiology'' by A.C. Guyton, suggesting that this applies to the colon as well. <!--Please cite a source if you can find it to dispute this claim--> <ref>Gray's Anatomy, current and previous editions</ref> 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). As an example, he points to a reference to the gastric mucosa in the 7th edition of ''Textbook of Medical Physiology'' by A.C. Guyton, suggesting that this applies to the colon as well. <!--Please cite a source if you can find it to dispute Anderson's claim (even though the burden of proof is on him!)--> {{cn}}


A search of 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, pathologists, coroners, and medical students doing dissections, operations, and autopsies do not encounter it. A search of 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, pathologists, coroners, and medical students doing dissections, operations, and autopsies do not encounter it.
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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). 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).


Richard Anderson claims that many doctors are not trained to recognize mucoid plaque. In his book, Richard Anderson cites numerous conventional scientific sources and claims they support his assertion (Anderson 59). None of them mention mucoid plaque. Richard Anderson claims that many doctors are not trained to recognize mucoid plaque. 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. <ref></ref><ref></ref> Richard Anderson is in the business of selling books promoting this view and products to fix or remedy it. <ref></ref><ref></ref>

⚫ ]s, rigorous ] 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. ], ], Gastroenterology, et cetera. A major objection is that this concept has never been described in the major medical journals, i.e. ], ], Gastroenterology, et cetera.
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Advertisements for some products marketed to cleanse the colon of mucoid plaque claim that an autopsy of ] 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 <ref name="snopes">http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/fecalcolon.asp</ref> on ]. Similar false claims are made about singer ].<ref name="snopes" /> 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. <ref name="pomegranate"><u>The Jerusalem Post</u>. "Pomegranate Feast Ends in Constipation." 4 September 1994 (p. 2).</ref> Advertisements for some products marketed to cleanse the colon of mucoid plaque claim that an autopsy of ] 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 <ref name="snopes">http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/fecalcolon.asp</ref> on ]. Similar false claims are made about singer ].<ref name="snopes" /> 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. <ref name="pomegranate"><u>The Jerusalem Post</u>. "Pomegranate Feast Ends in Constipation." 4 September 1994 (p. 2).</ref>


==References== == References ==
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>
<references />

*Anderson, Richard. <u>Cleanse & Purify Thyself: Book Two</u>. Mt. Shasta, California: Christobe, 2000. * Anderson, Richard. <u>Cleanse & Purify Thyself: Book Two</u>. Mt. Shasta, California: Christobe, 2000.
*Anderson, Richard. "My Most Frequently Asked Questions about Colon And Internal Cleansing" <u>Cleanse.net</u>. http://www.cleanse.net/newsite/faqs.html#mucoid
*Thuman, Edward. “Mucoid Plaque.” <u>Quackwatch</u>. <http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/QA/mucoidplaque.html> No such thing. * Thuman, Edward.
*Forstner, JF. “Intestinal mucins in health and disease.” <u>Digestion</u> 1978 17(3) 234-63. . * Forstner, JF. “Intestinal mucins in health and disease.” <u>Digestion</u> 1978 17(3) 234-63. .
⚫ * Gray, Robert. <u>The Colon Health Handbook: New Health Through Colon Rejuvenation</u>. Reno, Nevada: Emerald, 1991.
*Poley, Rainer J. “The Scanning Electron Microscope: How Valuable in the Evaluation of Small Bowel Mucosal Pathology in Chronic Childhood Diarrhea?”. <u>Scanning Microscopy</u> 1991 5(4) 1037-1062.
⚫ * Friedlander, Ed. “Ed’s Guide to Alternative Therapies.” <u>The Pathology Guy</u>. <http://www.pathguy.com/altermed.htm#colonic>.
⚫ *Gray, Robert. <u>The Colon Health Handbook: New Health Through Colon Rejuvenation</u>. Reno, Nevada: Emerald, 1991.
⚫ *Friedlander, Ed. “Ed’s Guide to Alternative Therapies.” <u>The Pathology Guy</u>. <http://www.pathguy.com/altermed.htm#colonic>.
* http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/fecalcolon.asp * http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/fecalcolon.asp
*<u>The Jerusalem Post</u>. "Pomegranate Feast Ends in Constipation." 4 September 1994 (p. 2). *<u>The Jerusalem Post</u>. "Pomegranate Feast Ends in Constipation." 4 September 1994 (p. 2).

*Pounder, Allison & Dhillon. <u>Color Atlas of the Digestive System</u>. Year Book Medical Publishers, 1989. page 155. (Note that you can call one of the libraries from www.worldcatlibraries.org and ask librarian to photocopy or scan page 155. A scan can be electronically sent to you via a file hosting service or e-mail.)
⚫ == External links ==
⚫ * - Edward Thuman, M.D.
⚫ * - Richard Anderson, N.D.
⚫ *
⚫ *


⚫ ==External links==
*
⚫ * -
⚫ * by Dr. Richard Anderson
⚫ *
⚫ *


] ]

Revision as of 13:06, 25 November 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. Critics contend that there is no mention of it in the medical literature and that it is only found as a unique 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 non-medical concept 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)

The role of the colon is to absorb water and nutrients. A limited amount of bacterial fermentation and absorption of other substances goes on, but the suggestion that thickening the lining of the colon would inhibit digestion is unsupported by medical evidence. The experience of those whose colon does not absorb (eg those with ulcerative colitis is of drastic diarrhoea as the volume passing through is not diminished sufficiently.

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). As an example, he points to a reference to the gastric mucosa in the 7th edition of Textbook of Medical Physiology by A.C. Guyton, suggesting that this applies to the colon as well.

A search of PubMed 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 autopsies 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).

Richard Anderson claims that many doctors are not trained to recognize mucoid plaque. 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 Thuman, 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" (Thuman).

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” (Friedlander).

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. Rich Anderson's books
  4. Rise and Shine Herbal Products
  5. ^ http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/fecalcolon.asp
  6. The Jerusalem Post. "Pomegranate Feast Ends in Constipation." 4 September 1994 (p. 2).
  • Anderson, Richard. Cleanse & Purify Thyself: Book Two. Mt. Shasta, California: Christobe, 2000.
  • Thuman, Edward. Mucoid Plaque.
  • Forstner, JF. “Intestinal mucins in health and disease.” Digestion 1978 17(3) 234-63. Medline.
  • Gray, Robert. The Colon Health Handbook: New Health Through Colon Rejuvenation. Reno, Nevada: Emerald, 1991.
  • Friedlander, Ed. “Ed’s Guide to Alternative Therapies.” The Pathology Guy. <http://www.pathguy.com/altermed.htm#colonic>.
  • http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/fecalcolon.asp
  • The Jerusalem Post. "Pomegranate Feast Ends in Constipation." 4 September 1994 (p. 2).

External links

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