Ep. 32 - Understanding the Nervous System from the Inside Out with Dr. Ally Durrieu

In this episode, Frances sits down with Dr. Ally Durrieu, owner of Nature Nurture Chiropractic, for an eye-opening conversation about chiropractic care through a neurological and nervous-system-based lens.Dr. Ally specializes in supporting children and adults with neurodiverse needs, sensory challenges, nervous system dysregulation, and stress-related concerns. Through her work with the PX Docs (Pediatric Experience) network, she helps families understand what may be happening beneath the surface when a child struggles with emotional regulation, sensory sensitivities, digestion, sleep, focus, or behavior.What You'll LearnDr. Ally explains that stress isn't just emotional — it falls into three categories: chemical (nutrition, toxins, food sensitivities), physical (injury, posture, movement), and emotional (relationships, parenting, work). Rather than eliminating stress, her goal is helping the nervous system adapt to it more effectively.She also walks through the three scans she uses to assess nervous system function:Heart Rate Variability (HRV) — measures stress adaptation and the ability to shift between fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest statesSurface EMG — evaluates how much energy the brain is sending to muscles, identifying tension, overload, and compensation patternsThermography — assesses skin temperature to reveal inflammation, blood flow, and nervous system interferenceFrances shares her own experience undergoing this assessment and reflects on how the results aligned with lifestyle changes she'd recently made.Behavior Is CommunicationA standout moment in the conversation centers on neurodiverse children. Dr. Ally explains how understanding a child's internal nervous system state — whether they're overactivated or running on empty — allows caregivers and professionals to respond with greater empathy and effectiveness. When we understand the physiology, the behavior makes more sense.The episode also touches on how nervous system function can influence digestion, immune health, allergies, sleep, and respiratory function — and why treating symptoms in isolation often misses the bigger picture.Trust Your GutDr. Ally closes with a powerful reminder for parents: trust your instincts. If something feels off with your child, that inner knowing is worth listening to. And for caregivers of all kinds — you cannot pour from an empty cup. Your well-being is the foundation for everything else.Connect with Dr. Ally Durrieu 🌐 naturenurturechiropractic.com 📸 @nature.nurture.chiropractic 🔍 Find a PX Docs provider: pxdocs.comConnect with The Play Base 🌐 us.theplaybase.com 📸 @theplaybase 🎥 YouTube: @theplaybase