With the Biopathy of Cancer, Reich's two-volume work is completed, in which the discovery of orgone is presented. Reich abandons the field of psychology and, by studying unicellular organisms and dead organic matter under the microscope, finds that the intensity-charge principle applies to all living nature.

He discovers that during the decomposition of dead organic matter, cysts are formed, which constitute a transitional stage between the living and the non-living; he names them "biota" and is astonished to observe that from these, protozoa develop under sterilization conditions, something that has been considered impossible since Pasteur's time. By studying the biota, he identifies the existence of a biological energy and later discovers that this energy is not limited to biological systems but exists in the atmosphere and throughout the universe. He names this energy "orgone".

Further studying the biota leads him to a new, completely different approach to the issue of the genesis of cancer cells. He observes that cancer cells are essentially protozoa and form from the organization of biota that are created in the organism when its tissues decompose due to energy deficiency. His clinical experience with several cancer patients reveals the consistent presence of psychological characteristics that are undoubtedly linked to their illness. In all cases, there is suppression of sexual desire, fear of sexual sensations, and resignation from any pursuit of sexual fulfillment. The energetically deficient tissues reorganize into cancer cells which in turn create the tumor. Therefore, the cancerous tumor is not the disease, but a symptom of a broader disturbance of the biosystem, caused by a serious disruption of its sexual economy.

From all this research emerged: the Reich Blood Test, which determines the shrinkage of the organism well before the appearance of the tumor; experimental accumulators, with which an attempt is made to energize the weakened organism; and finally, a preliminary psychotherapeutic approach to the issue.