Sometimes sleeping can be a literal pain in the neck, because many pillows don't offer the proper support. As a result, you end up with your neck crunched and bent into unhealthy positions that put pressure on the wrong parts of your neck, and cause you to wake up stiff and sore. Buckwheat pillows offer a solution that gives you support and reduces the potential for neck pain.
Manufacturing
Buckwheat comes from a fruit plant that's a cousin of rhubarb. The seed is split in half and the inner buckwheat meal is made into flour; the leftover husks are vacuumed clean, so they don't contain any dust, meal or twigs, and sold to pillow manufacturers. The husks are then flattened so they have more resistance, and stuffed into heavy cotton pillowcases so the pillows retain their shape. Buckwheat pillows were first used in Asia, and have been popular there for 200 years. They were brought to North America in the early 20th century, through Canada, and word of mouth has caused their use to spread throughout the continent.
Features
Many buckwheat pillows are made with organic buckwheat hulls, which are the outside husks of buckwheat seeds. The hulls are usually encased in a cotton zippered pillowcase. Buckwheat hulls don't compress the way that feather or foam pillows do, so you don't lose volume and end up with a flat pillow that makes your neck bend into awkward positions. Instead, the hulls conform to the shape of your head and neck.
Benefits
Because of the way the husks conform and adjust when you lie down on them, buckwheat pillows offer excellent support for your neck and spine. Because your head and neck are held in alignment as you sleep, you'll experience less neck pain that can come from using pillows that are the wrong shape. There is little pressure on your head or neck, since the hulls shift with you.
Besides support, you also get temperature regulation. The pillows can be put in the fridge or freezer to keep you extra cool, but even without the added boost, buckwheat allows air to flow and circulate around your head and neck. That helps you stay cool and dry in the summer, but nicely warm in the winter.
Instructions
If you sleep on your side, your neck will bend if you don't have at least 4 to 6 inches of support under it. Buckwheat allows you to have that support by building the husks up under the crook of your neck, and you can customize the shape of your pillow by moving the hulls around wherever you need them. You can also make a comforting nest for your head by making a circular shape with your fingers before lying down.
Adjustments
You may like more or less buckwheat in your pillow, because changing the amount affects the firmness and thickness, giving you customized comfort and neck support. Most buckwheat pillows have a zippered case, which allows you to add or remove buckwheat. This also makes it easy to wash the case without getting the buckwheat hulls wet.
