def extract_text_from_doc(doc_path):
    """
    Helper function to extract plain text from .doc files

    :param doc_path: path to .doc file to be extracted
    :return: string of extracted text
    """
    try:
        try:
            import textract
        except ImportError:
            return ' '
        text = textract.process(doc_path).decode('utf-8')
        return text
    except KeyError:
        return ' '
