A Review of 'Mind and Membrain' by Jo Wildy

Targeting a wide audience, including general readers, medical professionals, therapists, and individuals involved in the sporting world, Wildy successfully bridges the gap between specialised knowledge and lay understanding. She describes the place osteopathy can play in mental health care in an accessible, easy-to-understand manner.     

The two-part structure of the book begins with a comprehensive exploration of ‘Membrain Disorder’ and its relation to mental health. Wildy's explanation of how trauma can affect dural membranes and brain health is both informative and engaging, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of mental health care. Once the “housing of the brain” is compromised, she asserts, the brain will adopt “adaptive behaviour as it struggles to maintain itself.” Adaptations may lead to mood disturbance and altered behaviour. Osteopaths skilled in the cranial field have an opportunity to affect change when symptoms are present but before changes in brain structure lead to pathology.  She explores head and pelvic traumas, surgical procedures, birth, and physical abuse, including a chapter on the impact of dental and orthodontic work.

Wildy's focus on the potential link between repetitive head trauma in contact sports and degenerative brain conditions, such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's, is timely and important. She calls for routine osteopathic checks for ‘membrain disorder’ and treatment for contact sport athletes, emphasising the need for preventative measures and early intervention in mental health care. Within the plethora of media reports, no reason had been proposed for the cause, prompting her to put pen to paper. 

Part two of the book turns to mental health diagnosis and systems theory, adding depth and nuance to the discussion. Wildy’s presentation of Stephen Buser's model and its application to mental health diagnosis is thought-provoking and insightful, offering a fresh perspective on psychiatric labelling and lived experience. She employs a Russian doll metaphor to bring systems theory into the biological and psychosocial spheres, urging a move away from symptom-based diagnosis and labelling and towards dimensions of origins, leading to more precise targeting of treatment.

A chapter on brain regions and their relationship to the membranous and bony housing provides a fascinating look at how specific traumas can affect particular emotions. I particularly appreciated the chance to consider this within the cerebral hemispheres.

Wildy’s extensive clinical and teaching experience is evident throughout the book, with case studies providing real-world examples of osteopathy’s impact on mental health. The artwork is simple and beautiful, complementing the text. Wildy’s vision of ‘membrain disorder’ becoming a widely recognised term in medical vocabulary is ambitious but achievable, given the book’s persuasive arguments and clear explanations. It has the potential to revolutionise how we understand and treat mental health issues.

In sum, ‘Mind and Membrain’ is an invaluable resource for osteopaths, non-osteopathic professionals and lay readers alike. Its well-reasoned arguments and competent explanations of osteopathic thinking make it a must-read for anyone interested in improving mental health care and understanding osteopathy’s role in this field. Finally, Wildy’s book is not only informative but also inspiring, in part in being gloriously osteopathic, in part in advocating for change. On a personal note, I know the power a treatment has on my mood (in fact, it prompted me to change career), and I now intend to consider mental well-being much more openly in practice. This book is a testament to the transformative power of osteopathy. In combining a rich exploration of osteopathic principles with a visionary approach to mental health, Wildy’s contribution to our profession is truly commendable. 

‘Mind and Membrain’ can be purchased from Amazon or at our clinic.

Merna Horthy