Buckwheat Pillows - What Are They?

Do you know what buckwheat is? Many people think buckwheat is a type of grain, but in actuality it is really a fruit. It is a member of the rhubarb family. Buckwheat pillows are simply pillows stuffed with buckwheat husks. Buckwheat husks are roasted and cleaned before they are put inside the pillow. Hence, the name buckwheat pillows.

Many people in the Western world think buckwheat pillows are new. Not so -- China and other Asian cultures have been using buckwheat pillows for 300 years and longer. Only within the last 20 years are we seeing buckwheat pillows used in the West.

Buckwheat pillows have a number of different benefits. For example, they tend to provide better support for your shoulders, back, head and neck than a regular pillow does. This is because the buckwheat molds very easily to the contour of your head and body. Additionally, air can circulate better through buckwheat than it can through the foam usually found in pillows. Which means that the pillow remains at a pleasing temperature while you sleep.

Besides that, buckwheat pillows are also environmentally friendly because they use natural, inexpensive resources instead of foam pillows. Which is a petroleum-based product.

The most common place you will see buckwheat pillows is probably in a yoga studio. Many students use buckwheat pillows as cushions to sit on while performing yoga.

Due to popular increase of buckwheat pillows, they now come in a variety of different forms. Besides a bed pillow, there are also buckwheat body pillows, travel pillows, neck pillows and lumbar pillows. In addition, there are also miniature buckwheat pillows that you can use for your wrists, for when you type at the computer.

Some buckwheat pillows are enhanced by adding herbs into the pillows. The most common types of herbs that are added to these pillows are lavender and chamomile. This gives some aromatherapy to the pillows.

Buckwheat pillows can be used for more than just for comfort. Doctors are even now recommending them to their patients who have suffered from sore necks and backs, migraine headaches, and even night sweats. However, before you use a buckwheat pillow make sure that you are not allergic to one. This is the main downside to these types of pillows.

If you take care of it properly, you can expect to get up to 10 years out your buckwheat pillow. Just make sure to wash the outside cover regularly and put the buckwheat pillow out in the sun for an hour or two every other month.