CHINESE MEDICINE AND THE BETRAYAL OF INTIMACY - THE THEORY AND TREATMENT OF ABUSE, INCEST, RAPE AND DIVORCE WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND HERBS .1.

The impact of the betrayal of intimacy, e.g., abuse, incest, rape and divorce, is examined from the perspective of Chinese medicine. These f orms of betrayal are discussed as they differentially affect the funct ion of various organ systems. The main patterns of betrayal are elabor ated with specific emphasis on the functioning of the Fire ''Officials '' (Heart, Small Intestine, Heart Protector and Triple Warmer). The fu nctions of these Officials are defined in terms of the level of bounda ry that they establish between one's self and the outer world. The eff ects of betrayal as it affects trust and memory, is elaborated. The au thor suggests that Chinese medicine, with its emphasis on the internal balance of yin and yang, is ideally suited to treating the effects of betrayal.