The Brain Development Podcast

That springtime "regression" you're seeing in your child might not be regression at all — it could be their body releasing toxicity, compounded by a histamine system tipped completely out of balance.

In this conversation, host Lara Barnes is joined by Vicky Finlayson of The Happy Healthy Unicorn to unpack why seasonal allergies hit neurodiverse children so hard. They explore the immune "seesaw" between innate and acquired immunity, the role of depleted cortisol and exhausted adrenals, and why undermethylation — present in around 98% of autistic children — makes histamine so difficult to clear.

You'll learn how dehydration, low stomach acid and gut pathogens like Blastocystis and Klebsiella ramp up histamine, plus practical, food-first interventions: natural antihistamines, high-histamine foods to reduce, clever hydration tricks for kids who don't feel thirst, and simple ways to support stomach acid and digestion.

If allergy season turns your child's behaviour upside down, this episode offers a genuine pathway forward

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Recognise that springtime "regression" may be your child's body naturally releasing stored toxicity, with seasonal allergies compounding it on top — not necessarily a true loss of skills.

Understand the immune seesaw: when innate immunity is suppressed, acquired immunity overreacts, which is why a child can show endless food sensitivities yet never shake a chronic yeast or parasitic infection.

Prioritise hydration first — the body produces more histamine when dehydrated, so make water appealing with fruit, fun ice cubes, special straws, or a splash of juice for kids who can't feel thirst.

Support stomach acid with zinc (critical for both acid production and methylation), bitter herbs, lemon water, apple cider vinegar, or betaine HCl and pepsin, since low acid also drives histamine up.

Reduce histamine load during acute flares by cutting high-histamine foods (smoked meats and fish, bone broth, spinach, bananas, dark chocolate) and adding natural antihistamines like nettle, bromelain, mullein, pomegranate and holy basil.

QUOTES

"Sometimes we can see what looks like a regressive event during this time, but actually it is just the body releasing toxicity."

"The greater the histamine load in a person, the more oppositional behaviour, the more anger, the more rigidity."

"It's not a true allergy — it's just where the immune system has gone wild, and that's what happens with pollen in these children."

"I think there's a misconception that if you're undermethylated, you're undermethylated forever — and that's just not the case."

"She would run through a bed of stinging nettles and come out laughing — she could not feel her body."

SOCIAL/IMPORTANT LINKS

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@braindevelopmentuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/braindevelopmentuk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/larakelly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/www.braindevelopment.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

HOST BIO

Lara Barnes a successful woman in tech found herself managing behavioural, learning and speech difficulties with her son, she learn functional neurology and how to change the brain to correct his symptoms and build his left brain. The Building the Brain Podcast is for parents needing to understand how to help their children and show them what can be done to change little lives to allow them to shine and be their best version.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you ever stopped to really watch your child breathe? While it is the most natural thing in the world, many neurodiverse children have developed dysfunctional breathing patterns that directly impact their sleep, focus, and emotional regulation. In this eye-opening episode, we are joined by breathing specialists Charlotte Marsh and Dr Louise Oliver to dive into the "NEAT" code for better breathing. We explore the massive neurological benefits of nasal breathing—which activates 50% more brain areas for memory than mouth breathing—and why habitual snoring is a red flag parents should not ignore. From the physical impact on jaw development to the hidden anxiety caused by over-breathing, this conversation provides practical, simple strategies you can implement at home tonight. Learn why "taking a big breath" might be the wrong cue and how a simple nightly nose-blow could be the first step in building a more resilient, settled brain.

Key Takeaways


Nasal Breathing is a Superpower: Breathing through the nose produces nitric oxide and activates 50% more brain regions responsible for executive function and memory.


Snoring is Not Normal: Habitual mouth breathing or gasping for air during sleep (apnoea) are signs of disordered breathing that hinder brain detoxification and oxygenation.


The Facial Connection: Long-term mouth breathing can alter a child's facial structure, potentially leading to a recessed jaw and more restricted airways.


Avoid Adult Cues: Children have a naturally faster respiratory rate; forcing them to take slow, "adult" breaths can inadvertently trigger a fight-or-flight stress response.


The "Nose-Blow" Habit: Ensuring a child’s nasal passages are clear before bed is one of the simplest ways to support a healthy nervous system through the night.

Timestamps


00:00 – Foundations of Breath: Why breathing is a foundational yet overlooked aspect of brain development.


01:25 – Meet the Experts: Charlotte and Louise share their journeys from personal injury and the NHS into breathwork.


03:55 – The NEAT Code: Breaking down Nose, Easy, Air, and Time for children.


06:22 – Spotting Disordered Breathing: Red flags to watch for, including mouth breathing and postural changes.


09:32 – Facial Structure and Airways: How the way a child breathes shapes their jaw, palate, and future airway health.


12:54 – The Vagal Connection: Why "taking a big breath" can increase anxiety and how to use humming to calm the vagus nerve.


16:45 – Practical At-Home Tips: Simple strategies, such as blowing the nose before bed, to improve sleep quality.


21:10 – Rebuilding Resilience: The vital link between functional breathing and a child's ability to cope with daily stress.

Dr Louise Oliver Links

Website: https://www.drlouiseolivertherapeuticlifecoaching.com/

E-mail: [email protected]

Instagram @drlouiseolivertlc

Facebook @louiseoliver

YouTube @drlouiseolivertlc

Linkedin @louiseoliver

Charlotte Marsh Links

https://www.instagram.com/betterbreathing/

https://www.tiktok.com/@susiesloth_bobb?_t=ZG-8tKboxWgr44&_r=1

https://youtube.com/@benefitsofbetterbreathing-123?si=nWubYtEu7HGvNScL

SOCIAL/IMPORTANT LINKS


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@braindevelopmentuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/braindevelopmentuk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/larakelly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/www.braindevelopment.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

HOST BIO

Lara Barnes a successful woman in tech found herself managing behavioural, learning and speech difficulties with her son, she learn functional neurology and how to change the brain to correct his symptoms and build his left brain. The Building the Brain Podcast is for parents needing to understand how to help their children and show them what can be done to change little lives to allow them to shine and be their best version.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Exhausted by the nightly battle to get your child to stay asleep? This professional yet accessible episode features Vicky Finlayson from The Happy Healthy Unicorn, who joins the Brain Development Podcast to break down why mainstream sleep advice often fails neurodiverse children. We dive deep into the biological "misses" that trigger night waking, from midnight cortisol spikes caused by blood glucose drops to the hidden role of histamine and "alerting" scents in the bedroom environment. Vicky explains why a bedtime snack of protein paired with complex carbs might be the missing link for your child's melatonin production and offers practical tips on "detoxing" the sleep environment—including the surprising impact of LED lights and EMFs. Whether you are dealing with a child who "forgets" how to fall asleep or frequent night rages, this conversation provides a toolkit of nutritional interventions and environmental shifts to help your child finally get the rest they need.

Key Takeaways



Manage Blood Glucose: Drops in blood sugar at night trigger the release of cortisol—a stress hormone—which alerts the brain and causes the child to wake up.


The Tryptophan Pairing: While protein contains tryptophan (an essential amino acid for sleep), it requires a complex carbohydrate to successfully "shunt" it into the brain for melatonin production.


Reduce Toxic Load: The liver is most active between 1 AM and 3 AM; removing scented items like bath bombs or crayons from the bedroom reduces the burden on this organ, preventing arousal.


Histamine Awareness: High histamine levels act as a stimulant; LED lights and certain gut bacteria can increase histamine production, keeping the nervous system alert.


Topical Magnesium: Applying magnesium chloride flakes or spray to the feet is an effective way to calm an overactive nervous system without needing oral supplements.

Timestamps


00:00 – The Exhausted Parent's Guide to Sleep: Introduction to sleep struggles in neurodiverse populations.


02:15 – Blood Glucose and Midnight Cortisol Spikes: Understanding the metabolic triggers for night waking.


04:50 – The Science of Tryptophan: Why a bedtime snack of protein and complex carbs is essential.


08:30 – Detoxing the Bedroom: How scents, EMFs, and liver activity impact rest.


11:15 – The LED and Histamine Connection: Why your child’s nightlight might be keeping them awake.


14:20 – Natural Antihistamines and Magnesium Strategies: Practical nutritional tools for calming the brain.


18:00 – Closing Thoughts: Final advice for parents and next steps in the healing journey.



Vicky Finlayson Links

⁠⁠⁠https://thehappyhealthyunicorn.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thehappyhealthyunicorn⁠⁠⁠

SOCIAL/IMPORTANT LINKS


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@braindevelopmentuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/braindevelopmentuk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/larakelly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/www.braindevelopment.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

HOST BIO

Lara Barnes a successful woman in tech found herself managing behavioural, learning and speech difficulties with her son, she learn functional neurology and how to change the brain to correct his symptoms and build his left brain. The Building the Brain Podcast is for parents needing to understand how to help their children and show them what can be done to change little lives to allow them to shine and be their best version.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ever felt the sting of being "held back" after school for another incident report? This episode is a lighthouse for any parent navigating the complexities of neurodiversity. We are joined by Tara Parry, a courageous mum who share the raw, honest story of her son, Herbie. Tara takes us through their intensive three-year journey, detailing the "hard graft" of an 18-month reflex integration program and the specific exercises that transformed Herbie’s motor skills in weeks. We explore the clinical side of their success—from using neurofeedback to help Herbie "remember" how to sleep, to discovering surprising food sensitivities through Organic Acid Testing. Tara’s story proves that while the path isn't easy, the destination—a child who "just blends in" and thrives at expected school levels—is worth every single black 'X' on the calendar.

Key Takeaways


Motor Markers of Brain Gaps: Difficulties with pincer grips or an inability to cross the midline are often neurological markers that can be corrected with specific, daily brain-changing exercises.

The "Bottom-Up" Sequence: Successful healing starts in the brain stem by integrating primitive reflexes before moving to higher-level therapies like neurofeedback or photobiomodulation.


Tenacity in Saturation: True neurological change requires persistent "hard graft"—Tara committed to 18 months of twice-daily exercises, treating them as non-negotiable as brushing teeth.


Refining Nutrition: Beyond just going gluten and dairy-free, specific testing can uncover "healthy food" sensitivities, such as salicylates in brightly coloured fruits, that may drive excitatory behaviour.


Regressions are Progress: Intense behavioural regressions during reflex work, particularly with the Spinal Galant or ATNR, are signs of the nervous system rewiring, not failure.



Timestamps

00:00 – Spotting the Early Signs: Recognising a "mother's instinct" even when milestones seem to be met.


06:44 – The First Breakthrough: How five minutes of daily "crossing the midline" exercises changed Herbie's motor skills in weeks.

11:47 – The Hard Graft of Reflexes: Navigating an 18-month integration program and the reality of school regressions.

20:15 – Unlocking Sleep with Neurofeedback: Moving from sleep deprivation to 10-hour nights by influencing brain waves.

25:10 – The Organic Acid Test: Why "rainbow diets" and green smoothies aren't the best choice for every child.

31:10 – Photobiomodulation & Brain Maps: Using red-light helmets and QEEG data to calm emotional responses.

38:00 – From Struggle to Blending In: The dream parents' evening and Herbie's new academic trajectory.


43:40 – A Message of Hope: The power of tenacity and building the brain stem from the bottom up.



SOCIAL/IMPORTANT LINKS


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@braindevelopmentuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/braindevelopmentuk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/larakelly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/www.braindevelopment.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

HOST BIO

Lara Barnes a successful woman in tech found herself managing behavioural, learning and speech difficulties with her son, she learn functional neurology and how to change the brain to correct his symptoms and build his left brain. The Building the Brain Podcast is for parents needing to understand how to help their children and show them what can be done to change little lives to allow them to shine and be their best version.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’ve ever found yourself asking, "Why is my child so aggressive?" or felt the heartbreak of a violent outburst you can't explain, this episode is for you. We sit down with Vicky Finlayson to discuss Pyrole Disorder—a frequently overlooked biochemical imbalance that strips the body of the very nutrients needed for calm: B6 and Zinc. When these "scaffolding" nutrients are depleted, children are left with a critically low tolerance for stress, leading to rages that aren't a choice, but a biological crisis. We dive into the groundbreaking research of the Walsh Institute, explore why common supplements like Omega-3 can sometimes backfire, and discuss a simple, non-invasive test that can provide life-changing answers in as little as two weeks. It’s time to move past the labels of "oppositional" and look at the internal stress driving the behavior, offering a pathway toward true regulation and peace for the whole family.

Key Takeaways

Pyrole Disorder causes the body to "pee out" vital B6 and zinc, which are essential cofactors for the calming neurotransmitters GABA and Serotonin.




Aggressive outbursts and poor stress tolerance in neurodiverse children are often physiological coping mechanisms, not deliberate behavioral choices.


Internal stressors, such as chronic bacterial or viral infections, can drive up pyrole production just as much as environmental stress.


While usually considered healthy, Omega-3 supplements can devastate children with high pyroles by further unbalancing the Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio.


Pyrole Disorder is linked to irrational fears, phobias, and severe blood glucose issues due to its impact on the insulin pathway.

00:00 – Introduction



00:32 – The Stigma of Violence in Neurodiversity


01:03 – Dr. Walsh’s Research on Violent Offenders


02:37 – Stress and Pyrole Production


03:52 – The Role of GABA and Serotonin


05:27 – The Link Between Copper and Violence


09:41 – Testing for Pyrole Disorder


10:48 – Case Study: Overcoming Severe PDA


12:54 – The Personal Impact of Phobias


15:05 – Biology Over Behavioural Choice


16:00 – Closing and Contact Information


Vicky Finlayson Links

⁠⁠⁠https://thehappyhealthyunicorn.com/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thehappyhealthyunicorn⁠⁠⁠

SOCIAL/IMPORTANT LINKS


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@braindevelopmentuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/braindevelopmentuk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/larakelly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/www.braindevelopment.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

HOST BIO

Lara Barnes a successful woman in tech found herself managing behavioural, learning and speech difficulties with her son, she learn functional neurology and how to change the brain to correct his symptoms and build his left brain. The Building the Brain Podcast is for parents needing to understand how to help their children and show them what can be done to change little lives to allow them to shine and be their best version.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠