Acknowledgments Although I wrote this book initially in solitude without benefit of counsel, the final version of it would not have been digestible without the help of many dedicated people. I’ d like to thank Adele Leone and Richard Monaco, my agents, for their continuous support of my work; Joëlle Delbourgo, my editor at Ballantine, who watched carefully over the development and maturing of this project; and Nancy van Itallie, who lent her expert editorial eye. My thanks to Clarèse Peterson, Dr. Rosemary Felton, Norman Porter, Richard Carlton, M. D., and most especially to Christiane Northrup, M. D., who read the first drafts of the manuscript and had valuable comments and considerations. Richard Donze, M. D., of the Philadelphia Methodist Hospital, looked over the final draft and with kind precision pointed out where facts needed clarification. My brother, Michael Polonyi, an electrical engineer, reviewed my section on systems theory. Klara Glowczewski pared my original ponderous tome down to a readable volume, and Mary Flynn and Dodie Edmands checked and rechecked all the charts, footnotes, references, and punctuation. Any inaccuracies that remain are my sole responsibility. My thanks also to John Boyajy, who in our brief but enriching marriage taught me, among other things, that vegetarianism can actually make some people sick and miserable; to Bernie Gavzer, for moral support and marvelously accurate proofreading; and to my numerous friends who are willing to listen to me when I need them. And finally, I want to emphasize that this book would not have been possible without the wonderful people who come to my classes or for consultations; they end up being my best teachers by sharing their experiences and reactions, and by asking the questions that send me looking for answers. This book is but a signpost on our journey together. Belated acknowledgments: There are two people whom I neglected to thank in the first edition, and I want to apologize for that neglect and repair it. Dana Ullman, M. P. H., the author of several books on homeopathy, including Everybody’ s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines, was kind enough to review and comment on my section on homeopathy. Professor Norman Childers, Ph. D., of the University of Florida and the author of Arthritis: Childers’ Diet to Stop It— The Nightshades, Aging and Ill Health, checked the technical sections in my chapter on nightshades. To both, my deep appreciation.