Pathogenesis is the study of the development of disease. In Biocharacteristics, pathogenesis refers to the way one imbalanced biocharacteristic in a location causes another biocharacteristic in another location.

The ongoing study and contemplation of pathogenesis is the most important aspect of biocharacteristics medicine. Once the clinician can demonstrate the chain of cause and effect, each step in the flowchart will reveal an opportunity for intervention. Accurate formulation of pathogenesis helps the herbalist pinpoint the one herb among many that has the correct energetics.

Disease begins in a site of origin where biocharacteristics accumulate due to exogenous factors (diet, lifestyle, environment, events). The disordered biocharacteristics then travel through various channels or pathways, and cause other biocharacteristics to become imbalanced. If these biocharacteristics overwhelm the body defenses in a particular location, the disordered biocharacteristics will become manifest and symptoms will appear.

In western medical style pathogenesis, diseases are analyzed biochemically. In Biocharacteristics medicine, syndromes are analyzed, rather than specific diseases. These syndromes aren't expressed biochemically, but biocharacteristically as in "Heat in the Liver (Yellow Tongue)" or "Dryness in the Digestive Tract (Pancreatic Insufficiency)" Each biocharacter-syndrome is a statement in the form Biocharacteristic in Location (Evidence1, Evidence 2, Evidence 3, ...).

• See the complete list of biocharacteristics.

A pathogenesis flowchart is a flowchart showing the progression of cause & effect of each syndrome. A pathogenesis flowchart allows you to trace current disorders back to their root cause, so you can find the site of origin. In biocharacteristics every client's pathogenesis is unique, even those who have the same symptoms.

• 1st progression: Syndrome 1 => Syndrome 2 => Syndrome 3 => etc.
• 2nd progression: Syndrome 1 => Syndrome 2 => Syndrome 3 => etc.
• 3rd progression: Syndrome 1 => Syndrome 2 => Syndrome 3 => etc.

Here is an example:

• Wet/Damp Diet => Toxins in Plasma (Coated Tongue) => Stagnant, Thick Fluids
• Stagnant, Thick Fluids (thick mucus, high blood pressure, puffy skin) => Heavy in Mind (feeling stuck / depression)
• Stagnation/Wet/Damp Fluids => Heavy in Heart (Sensation of pressure and heaviness in chest) => Mobile in Mind (Overwhelmed easily, panic attacks, stress)
• Stress => Wet/Damp Diet (Emotional eating, Sugary food choices)

The in location part of the syndrome can also refer to other circumstances. For example, instead of dryness in the skin, one could add dryness moving upwards in the skin, etc. Each biocharacteristic can also be a taste, element, or constitution.

Common Mistakes in Drafting Pathogenesis Flowcharts