The ropes u mention are more technically known as Mucoid Plaque and many believe this is years of impacted faecal matter that has binded to the walls of your intenstines and therefore when it is excreted it resembles the shape of the colon. it is black/ brown in colour and stinks bad! people achieve the expulsion of this by consuming the B & P shakes you mention, a shortening for there real name... Psyllium and Bentonite powder shakes. The Bentonite powder is a volcanic clay that absorbs massive quatities of water and toxins from the colon. when used in conjunction with psyllium ( a fibre) a great Colon Cleanse is achieved. ok so this is a basic description but the more you read the more you will learn. type in P&B shakes in the search bar at the top of the Bowel Cleanse Forum to find masses of information on this subject