"I think mainstream medicines are more effective, safer, and better tested short and long term."

There just aren't enough studies, not nearly enough, to settle the issue either way on effectiveness, and on a number of issues, including SIBO, studies are showing the opposite, namely, that herbals are more effective. Regarding safety, I'm surprised you say this, given the horrendous list of side effects that come with many pharmaceuticals. Regarding studies, you're certainly right, but we know why that's the case. But sure, it is definitely the case.

In an ideal world where there would be more funding for researching the wealth of natural substances at our disposal, we would have more studies and on larger scales. But we take what we have, and there are hundreds of smaller scale studies being conducted yearly for herb based medicines for various conditions. And honestly, if I can help it, I would rather take my chances with garlic and neem, or onion and grape seed extract, than with toxic chemicals manufactured by pharma, say so called safe statins or the like.

Many people are here due to side effects from so called well studied pharmaceuticals. Most studies don't study long term effects, because it's not cost effective, and the medication under study gets approval after a couple of years. But then we have people who after a decade of using some med end up with PN or some other chronic illness and have to suffer the rest of their lives. The funding you're worried about is in the pharmaceutical industry and does impact results and length of studies, and there have been some infamous cases, so I think there are some difficult issue here that need to be considered. And even with the most thorough studies, yes, as you note, there can be those who fall outside of the safety zone, so to speak, and so suffer.

On a personal note, so far I've only had benefit from everything natural, immense benefit and healing in fact, but much of my problems, perhaps even the SFN, was either made worse or perhaps partially caused by the so called least harmful OTC meds. I'm glad that natural herbs and supplements are getting more traction and studies are being done, even if on a much smaller scale than with pharmaceuticals. I'm not against meds when needed, but they always come with some serious side effects and support a terribly corrupt industry, so I will continue to seek natural methods of healing to the extent that I can. When/if I fail, I'll turn to big pharma. But I hope that never comes.

I do appreciate a good discussion, especially when it's about an important issue.