Orgone

Reich developed the orgone concept during his psychoanalytic research in the 1930s, initially describing it as the physical basis of Freudian libido. He theorized that orgone existed in two forms: positive orgone energy (OR), which promoted life and health, and deadly orgone energy (DOR), which caused disease and decay. According to Reich, atmospheric orgone could be concentrated using specially constructed boxes lined with alternating layers of organic and metallic materials.

Reich’s orgone accumulators consisted of wooden boxes with steel wool or other metal materials layered with organic substances such as cotton or wool. He claimed these devices concentrated ambient orgone energy, which could then be used to treat various ailments including cancer. Reich established the Orgone Institute in Maine and began manufacturing and distributing accumulators commercially.

The medical claims attracted attention from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which investigated Reich’s practices beginning in 1947. The FDA found no scientific evidence supporting orgone theory and determined that the accumulators were fraudulent medical devices. In 1954, a federal court issued an injunction prohibiting Reich from distributing accumulators or orgone-related materials across state lines.

Reich violated the injunction by continuing to transport accumulators and publications, resulting in his prosecution for contempt of court. He was sentenced to two years in federal prison, where he died in 1957. The FDA ordered the destruction of Reich’s accumulators and burned his books and research materials, an action that generated controversy among civil liberties advocates.

Contemporary proponents, including atmospheric physicist James DeMeo, continue to advocate for orgone research, claiming that mainstream science has suppressed Reich’s discoveries. However, no peer-reviewed research has validated orgone theory, and attempts to measure orgone energy using standard scientific instruments have failed to detect any anomalous effects. The scientific consensus remains that orgone has no physical basis beyond psychological suggestion.