Mucoid plaque, also called mucoid rope, is a term coined by the naturopath Richard Anderson and refers to mucus film that covers the gastrointestinal tract. According to some alternative medicine practitioners’ point of view, mucoid plaque is harmful to the body. Researchers, however, have shown that such plaque does not exist.
Mucus occurs naturally along the lining of the intestinal tract. It plays a protective role against infection and damage. Several pathological conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, have thinner or no mucus layer, making the intestinal tract prone to damage and infection.
Richard Anderson is an entrepreneur who sells a range of body-cleansing products that claim to eliminate harmful substances within the body, such as mucoid plaque. Several colon-cleansing products that are being advertised to the public have false medical claims. These products contain laxatives, fibrous thickening agents, and clay. Laxatives are medications for constipation, and fibrous thickening agents and clay cannot be digested within the gastrointestinal tract, and these will all be excreted from the body through the normal physiological process plus the action of laxatives. The ingredients themselves would result in the excretion of these products in the form of what they claim is mucoid plaque, but in reality these products are just bulky stools composed of fibers, clay, and normal waste products formed by the digestive system.
Anderson also claims that the harmful effects of mucoid plaque include impairment of digestion and nutrient absorption, holding of harmful organisms, and development of diseases such as diarrhea, allergies, skin conditions, and bowel cancer. Other advertisements regarding colon-cleansing agents by some alternative medicine practitioners have similar claims about how it can harm the body, but they also often mention constipation. These claims do not coincide with the normal anatomical and physiological bases of the digestive tract. Even microscopically, mucoid plaque has not been proven to exist. There are no valid, significant studies that prove the false claims regarding the harmful effects of mucoid plaque.
Mucoid plaque does not exist, and there is no medical literature that supports its existence. Waste materials in the gastrointestinal tract do not adhere to the functionally normal intestines, and most individuals have their gastrointestinal tract cleared within 3 days. The false claims, however, can be easily found on various online sources. It is also unfortunate that these claims seem very convincing to the public. People should, therefore, be extra cautious in believing information about these claims.
