A research review finds that for patients with endometriosis, Chinese herbal treatments may offer similar benefits to standard treatments without side effects like skin problems or weight gain.

Cochrane researchers looked at the role of herbal supplements after laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive surgical technique used by doctors to treat certain gynecological disorders.

They say that compared to two hormone therapies generally given as part of post-operative care, women were more likely to report improvement of symptoms with fewer side effects, according to the report.

"These findings suggest that Chinese herbs may be just as effective as certain conventional drug treatments for women suffering from endometriosis," says lead author Dr Andrew Flower.

More benefits are likely to be found from Eastern remedies, adds Flower, but says that the research methodologies used by scientists in China have limited their clinical viability in other countries.

At least 50 studies had to be eliminated from the review because of their methodologies, which "could undermine research in Chinese herbal medicine," he says.