Do you know what a buckwheat hull pillow, hereinafter referred to simply as a buckwheat pillow, is? I ask this because a lot of people never heard of them, although they've been in use in the Orient for between 2 and 3 thousand years, maybe even longer.
To those of us who use them, this seems strange, because, in my opinion, buckwheat pillows are unsurpassed by any other type of pillow, in any arena of comparison you choose.
Just exactly what are buckwheat pillows, you ask.
They are simply a pillow cover containing a concealed nylon zipper in one end, filled with the specially cleaned hulls of the seeds of the buckwheat plant.
Buckwheat, incidentally, is not a grain.
It is actually classified as a fruit, and is closely related to the rhubarb plant.
These hulls have 2 unique characteristics, which make them the quintessential pillow filling.
First, the shape of the hulls allows air to circulate between them, thus ventilating the pillow and suppressing the tendency of overheating where your head contacts the pillow.
Secondly, the hulls have on their surface, tiny ridges, which cause the individual hulls to resist sliding past each other just enough to produce what I call malleability.
In other words, it allows the hulls to retain whatever position in which you choose to lay your head, and to support it in that position.
However, if you change your head's position as you sleep, it will readily change its position with you, and then support your head in that new position - thus, malleability.
To me, the most important comparison between buckwheat pillows and other more conventional pillows would be that of comfort.
I believe more buckwheat pillows are bought on the basis of incomparable sleeping comfort than any other reason, although there are many more reasons to consider.
The action of the buckwheat hulls is much more readily experienced than it is explained.
Another area where the buckwheat pillow can not be surpassed is in the resistance to dust mite infestations.
Whether you know it or not, dust mites infest virtually every household in the world, with the possible exception of some Eskimo igloos.
If you've never seen a microscopic picture of a dust mite, you're in for a nauseating experience.
They look like a cross between a spider and a crayfish, and they live on dead skin flakes.
They don't bite, but their dead bodies and feces do accumulate in conventional pillows to the extent that many recommend that conventional pillows be discarded after 6 months use, as they do contribute to allergies and plague asthma sufferers.
While I'm sure they do pass through the buckwheat pillows, there's absolutely nothing in the buckwheat hulls to cause dust mites to infest them as they do conventional pillows.
Because of their malleability described above, they are extremely useful in providing relief to those suffering from back pain, and especially from neck pain.
Chiropractors regularly prescribe buckwheat neck pillows and other larger buckwheat pillows for their patients.
They are also considered to be hypoallergenic, as long as the hulls have been properly vacuum cleaned, as they are in quality pillows.
Incidentally, many feel that the malleability of the buckwheat hulls actually improves with their use.
Another extremely important advantage that buckwheat pillows have over conventional pillows is the adjustability factor provided by the nylon zipper.
This allows each individual user to adjust the volume of hulls in the pillow.
There is a wide variation between individuals as to the firmness which they prefer in their pillows, and no other type of pillow with the exception of an air or water filled pillow, can provide this feature, and neither of those provide anything closely approaching the comfort level of a buckwheat pillow.
Other features you should look for in a quality buckwheat pillow would be organic cotton covers as well as organic buckwheat hulls.
It is also important that they be made in the USA, and not only for patriotic reasons, although that would be reason enough, but federal law requires that imported buckwheat hulls must be roasted to kill any foreign insects, viruses, etc.
that could be imported with them.
This roasting bakes out some of the natural oils, and decreases the life of the hulls.
Some merchants will advertise this roasting as being a virtue, but the only virtue is the elimination of any foreign insects etc..
A quality hand made in USA buckwheat pillow will last 10 to 15 years.
Compare this to the recommended disposal, due to the dust mite infestations of conventional feather or foam pillows, and you can soon figure out how much money you would save over any given number of years.
So whether you are considering the virtues of a pillow in regard to comfort, health related issues, or economics, I believe you will find a buckwheat pillow very hard to match.
For more information go to http://www.
Buckwheatpillowblog.
com, or Buckwheatglory.
com.