Hair Follicle Patterns from Chemotaxis, Low-Dose Naltrexone for EBV Reactivation, Inulin for Knee Arthritis, Thyroid Dose Instability from Generics, Safe Running Progression, and Energy Drink Cardiac Report Caveats

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 11-12-2026:

Hair growth patterns are not genetically mapped, they emerge through a simple spread of a chemical messenger through the early embryonic tissue. Humans all have a spiral whorl of hair growth on the top of their head - 85% - 90% are clockwise. The primordial follicles, called placodes, develop by the spread of a chemical messenger (chemotaxis), working like ink dropped onto a wet paper towel. Later in development, the original structure rotates – usually but not always clockwise and creates the whorl. Counter clockwise people are more likely to be left handed (controversial but cool). Research at University of Geneva researchers established that hair follicle patterns arise from chemotaxis—mobile dermal cells responding to an epidermal chemical signal—rather than the long-assumed inhibitory field model

An emailer with EBV reactivation and year-long post-illness fatigue (worse the day after exercise) asks about low-dose naltrexone; Dr. Dawn frames the symptoms as the "push-crash cycle" as it is called in functional medicine, often reflecting a stuck-on immune system exhausting energy stores. . LDN (compounded at 1.5-4.5 mg daily, versus the standard 50 mg naltrexone dose used for alcoholism and opioid overdose reversal, can modulate overactive immunity.

A University of Nottingham randomized trial of 117 adults with knee arthritis found that daily inulin (a fermentable fiber from certain roots) reduced knee pain, improved grip strength, and reduced pain-threshold sensitivity to a greater degree than digitally-supported physical therapy, with much better adherence (3% vs 21% dropout). Butyrate and GLP-1 blood levels both rose, pointing to gut microbiome fermentation as the mechanism.

A caller post-thyroidectomy reports three years of unstable TSH despite careful early-morning levothyroxine dosing with no interfering foods. Dr. Dawn attributes the oscillation to generic-pill switching between pharmacy batches (color/shape changes confirmed), and recommends paying extra for brand-name Synthroid for three months at a slightly lower dose to achieve stability. She also flags biotin supplements as a common interference with thyroid and troponin lab assays—a potentially dangerous masking effect in cardiac workups.

A Cochrane review found little evidence that running shoe design or stretching affect running injury risk, but ramping training volume too fast matters a lot—a 2025 study of 5,000 runners found going even 1