Acupuncture for pain in endometriosis has been used for thousands years. It is a useful, effective and quick way to control/manage the pain. The study by Zhu X1, Hamilton KD, McNicol ED. for acupuncture treatment of endometriosis is one example of proof for this traditional medicine. Study of acupuncture using western medicine methodology can be a challenge for the researcher. For example, which points to use, who and how to insert the needle, etc. Also, Chinese Medicine defines patients conditions based on pattern diagnosis. There might be several pattern which leads to endometriosis and treatment will be different. Anyway, this is one of the researches regarding to the effectiveness of acupuncture.
Also the study mentioned Chinese herbal medicine is not totally accurate. It shall defines the contents of the herbal formula. Then it shall stick to the formula instead of general term of Chinese medicine. You cannot make a conclusion of all medicine based on one formula.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21901713
"Endometriosis is a prevalent gynaecological condition, significantly affecting women's lives. Clinical presentations may vary from absence of symptoms to complaints of chronic pelvic pain, most notably dysmenorrhoea. The management of pain in endometriosis is currently inadequate. Acupuncture has been studied in gynaecological disorders but its effectiveness for pain in endometriosis is uncertain."
The result: " Dysmenorrhoea scores were lower in the acupuncture group (mean difference -4.81 points, 95% confidence interval -6.25 to -3.37, P < 0.00001) using the 15-point Guideline for Clinical Research on New Chinese Medicine for Treatment of Pelvic Endometriosis scale. The total effective rate ('cured', 'significantly effective' or 'effective') for auricular acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine was 91.9% and 60%, respectively (risk ratio 3.04, 95% confidence interval 1.65 to 5.62, P = 0.0004). "
