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 Shopping for a buckwheat hull pillow?
There are dozens of pillows on the market, some very good, some not so good and some pretty bad. We get people calling all the time that have bought pillows that last only 6 to 8 months - why? A good quality pillow should last 8 to 10 years - poorly made pillows will be filled with inferior hulls that will breakdown quickly and a pillow cover made of the thinnest and cheapest of fabrics. The following is a brief buying guide to buckwheat hull pillows and some questions to consider when looking at the various features of different pillows. What is the quality of the buckwheat hulls in the pillow? There are two main considerations here: whether to buy an organic hull pillow and how clean the hulls are. a) Organic versus non-organic Yes, organic is more expensive but gives you a much better quality pillow in our view. The primary use of non-organic buckwheat hulls is as a mulch fertilizer. As such there is not a lot of concern about how much pesticide and herbicide residues are on the hulls. Organic hulls give you the assurance that your pillows are as free of chemicals as they can be. However it is important to have confidence in the "organic certification" of the hulls. Typically in North America the use of the term organic is regulated by government and requires third party organic certification. Third party certification helps ensure there is somebody verifying that the company is truly following proper organic growing and processing rules. Unfortunately, offshore products certified as being "organic" may not be - in many parts of the world the proper regulatory steps have not been taken to ensure this to be the case. So yes, organic does cost slightly more but it is well worth it, especially since a good buckwheat pillow will last many years. ALSO the retailer should be able to provide proof of third party certification of the hulls. All of our buckwheat hulls used in the manufacturing of our pillows is grown and processed in Canada. It is third party certified organically grown and processed. b) How clean is the buckwheat? There is nothing worse than a dusty pillow. The main reason buckwheat is grown is for the buckwheat flour. This is removed by a milling process leaving two little concave buckwheat hulls behind. However some dust can be left behind too - it is important that the hulls used in the pillow be thoroughly cleaned of dust. Further it is important that the hulls are not completely crushed during the processing as this can break the hulls and result in a much shorter lifetime for the pillow. Some of the really cheap pillows you can find in discount store will be filled almost entirely with broken bits of buckwheat hull. Our buckwheat exceeds triple cleaning and is run through 5 different machines so you know you are getting the cleanest buckwheat hulls available! c) For clarification buckwheat hull pillows and buckwheat husk pillows are the same thing - they are simply different terms for the outer shell of the buckwheat kernel. What is the pillow cover made of? Buckwheat hull pillows are heavier then normal pillows and we have found a fairly heavyweight cotton material to be useful in helping the pillow keep its shape. If the fabric is too light you may find the pillow loses its shape and become a sack of buckwheat hulls - this can make it difficult to get into a comfortable sleeping position. Again, organic cotton is nice especially if you have organic hulls inside. Just as with the hulls make sure that if you do go organic that the fabric is government certified. We offer you a choice of 100%unbleached cotton pillows and cases or 100% certified organic Texas grown cotton pillows and cases. How much fill should be in the pillow? Most quality pillows come with more stuffing than the average person will use. The smaller sized pillows (i.e. 14 by 20 inches) should have at least 4 1/2 pounds of fill. Many people will find 2 to 3 pounds of hulls to be most comfortable. So it is very important that when you get a pillow you remove some of the hulls and experiment with various amounts of fill to see what is most comfortable. Quality pillows will have a zipper to allow you open the pillow for removal and addition of hulls as needed. So why do you need the extra hulls? Well, until you try a pillow you cannot know how much fill you will need. And secondly over time the hulls do compress and lose a slight bit of volume. Addition of some extra hulls is then needed to get the pillow back to it previous loft. Lastly you may find that you use your pillow on the couch or easy chair in which case you may want a higher loft pillow. Our Regular size (14" X 20") pillow has 4 1/2 pounds of buckwheat and our Super size (17" X 23") pillow has 6 1/2 pounds of buckwheat hulls. Does the pillow have a zipper? In our opinion the pillow must have a zipper - if it does not you cannot add or remove hulls to customize the fit, nor can you "top-up" the pillow after a few months when the hulls compress slightly. All of our pillows come with a zipper so you can customize the loft. Which is the best shape and size of pillow? A normal rectangular shape is best for sleeping and is generally offered by most quality manufacturers. As for size, most people will find a smaller pillow (i.e. about 14 by 20 inches) very comfortable and easy to sleep with. Buckwheat hull pillows are heavier than regular fill pillows and too large of buckwheat pillow can be difficult to move around during the night. Lumbar and neck roll pillows are good for reading, watching TV, or for neck or back support when traveling. We offer many different sizes and styles of pillows to suit every need! Who is selling the pillow? Look for a pillow company that makes buckwheat pillows - generally this will mean there was a certain degree of care put into the design and manufacturing of the pillow. Also it means if you have any questions you will be talking to people that use buckwheat pillows. We have been manufacturing quality buckwheat hull pillows for over 10 years now. Each pillow is individually hand made and filled so you get an artisan pillow that looks as good as it feels. We never mass-produce our pillows! What type of guarantee do you get with the pillow? The company selling you the pillow should be offering a guarantee on the pillow construction. Some companies also offer a return guarantee on the pillow if you do not like it. If the company offers a "money back if not satisfied guarantee" just make sure that it is a refund and not a credit, and make sure there are no "restocking fees". (And also make sure they will take back a pillow that has actually been used). Our guarantee is tops in the industry! Try the pillow risk-free for 6 months. If you don't like it you can return it for a full refund (less shipping and handling). We never charge a restocking fee, and the refund is a true refund, not a credit! Enjoy the benefits of buckwheat hull pillows!
The optimal pillow must have good moisture absorption ability to promote maximum air circulation around your head, neck and scalp; the unique shape, weight and size of the buckwheat hulls is the perfect way to ensure a cool, dry, comfortable night of sleep. (Buckwheat hull pillows are also known as buckwheat husk pillows)
The natural buckwheat hull filling has many advantages over conventional fiberfill, foam, or feather fillings. The most important quality of buckwheat hull pillows is that they conform to the exact contours of the head and neck, providing a flexible support. This means that you have the same amount of support in all areas. Unlike buckwheat hulls, other filling materials compress, and either try to recover their original shape or compress too much. Buckwheat hull pillows can be adjusted to the size to your individual needs by removing or adding filling so that the pillow fits you just right.
For many years people have been trying to design pillows to provide firm head and neck support when sleeping. Some people find that a traditional foam or feather pillow is too soft to effectively support their head and neck. Many people are now turning to Buckwheat pillows, which conform to their anatomy, to give them the support they desire for their head and neck for a refreshing, restful night of sleep. Ecopillows 100% unbleached cotton buckwheat pillows: - Provide extreme comfort; Conform to your anatomy;
- Provide support to head, neck and spine; Help keep the head cool as air passes through the hulls - a cool head temperature helps some people sleep well;
- Provide soft, yet firm support. They are comfortable for sleeping on your back or on your side;
- The zippered pillow cover allows for easy addition or removal of hulls and is made from 100% unbleached cotton. The filling is made from 100% organically grown buckwheat hulls.
Other advantages of the buckwheat hull filling are the "cool in the summer, warm in the winter" insulating properties. Pillow may be chilled in the freezer to offer an even greater cooling effect - great for hot summer nights! The filling also lasts for many years, making the pillow the best value specialty pillow on the market. Long after other pillows have collapsed and worn out, a buckwheat hull pillow will still be fully functional. Buckwheat hull pillows are also environmentally friendly - for each pillow put to use, it will save the manufacturing of the synthetic filling for ten or more ordinary pillows. |
We also OVERSTUFF our buckwheat pillows with about 20 percent more stuffing than what most pillows of the same size would have. Our regular buckwheat pillow has about 4 1/2 pounds of stuffing and our super buckwheat pillow about 6 1/2 pounds. This provides lots of stuffing for those that want a very high pillow and also provides extra stuffing for the future when the hulls compress a bit (as all buckwheat hulls do over the course of a few years). Those that want an even higher loft buckwheat pillow can order extra hulls as well.
The unbleached cotton we use in our buckwheat pillows is: - pillow cover material is a heavy 100% unbleached cotton.Buckwheat pillow fabric must be heavy as too light of fabric results in a pillow that will not hold its shape well.
- optional pillow case material is a medium weight 100% unbleached cotton.
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Just What is Buckwheat, Anyways?
Despite its name, buckwheat is not a cereal grain but rather a fruit related to rhubarb. Buckwheat is a broad leaf plant that grows well under a wide range of soil conditions. Although it adapts best to well drained sandy loam soil, it is often grown on heavier soils when seeding of the major cereals and oilseeds has been prevented by wet conditions. The root system is less extensive than those of the true cereal grain plants. Areas in the plains of North America are ideally suited to the growing of buckwheat. Eastern Europe also produces significant volumes of buckwheat. The meal of the buckwheat is separated from the hull mechanically and is ground to become buckwheat flour. The leftover buckwheat hull (also called a buckwheat husk) must be cleaned with air to remove the buckwheat meal dust.
Buckwheat flour's nutritional value makes it an ideal ingredient for a wide range of products. It is high in potassium, magnesium and iron as well as vitamins B. Buckwheat can be milled into flour or processed into groats and grits. The groats and grits can be eaten roasted or plain. Roasted groats may be used as a meat extender, as an ingredient in breakfast cereals and soups, as well as to decorate bread. Buckwheat is also used to produce chocolate bars and snack foods. In Japan, buckwheat flour is mixed with other varieties to produce "Soba" noodles. The Japanese consume buckwheat in the form of noodles, commonly eaten at breakfast and in instant soup. Innovative research into the potential use of buckwheat in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries for lowering cholesterol and fighting diabetes is one example.
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FAQ's How long will the pillow last?
A good buckwheat pillow should last for about 8 to 10 years. The hulls do not break down or wear out, but they do become polished with use. This polishing actually allows the buckwheat to work better than new because the hulls move and conform to your contours more easily. After the first year or two of use of your buckwheat pillow you may want to add a little more filling as the polished hulls take up about 7% less volume. This should only need to be done once; it is not a continual process. Many Moons pillows are overstuffed when shipped to you so it is recommended that you remove and save the extra hulls for possible future use (just put in a bag and store in a dry place). If you ever do need additional hulls, they are available for a nominal charge. Why is the Regular buckwheat pillow smaller than traditional pillows?
Buckwheat is fairly heavy compared to fiber or foam pillow stuffing. A buckwheat pillow made the same size as a traditional pillow may be too heavy for some people that move their pillow around a lot when they sleep. While our Regular sized buckwheat hull pillow suits most people, we also offer a Super Sized pillow. Are your pillows guaranteed?
We offer a "no questions asked" 6 month guarantee. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, just return the pillow for a full refund (less the shipping fee). We DO NOT charge any restocking fees and the refund is a true refund of your money - not just a credit to buy something else.
As well, we offer a 2 year warranty against defects in manufacturing. What are Buckwheat Hulls? Buckwheat hulls are the outer husks of the buckwheat kernel and protect it from the various elements of nature. It is not a wheat at all, but actually a fruit (fagopyrum esculentum) related to rhubarb. The buckwheat used in our pillows is organically grown in Canada, using no fertilizers or pesticides. The hulls are screened and vacuumed of any buckwheat flour residue. Make sure the pillow you buy is filled with whole organic buckwheat hulls. Many of the cheaper pillows are filled with fumigated buckwheat from eastern Europe or Asia and some use cheaper buckwheat hull pieces. Can I cool my pillow?
Refrigerating or freezing buckwheat pillows can help relieve aches and pains and can also help cool you on hot nights. We do not recommend heating the pillows as it can reduce the moisture content of the hulls and limit the life of the pillow. Also, heating the pillows can be hazardous depending on how the pillow is heated. The pillow zipper has metal in it and cannot be put in a microwave. How much stuffing do I need?
Good question - the answer depends on the individual. Some people like an extra high pillow so would use all the stuffing. Some people prefer a lower pillow and use only 1/2 the stuffing. So it is important to make sure your buckwheat pillow has a zipper so that you can add or remove hulls to suit your needs. We recommend to people that they start with about 1/2 the filling and try the pillow for comfort - then add or remove hulls to get the best "fit" for your needs. Keep the extra hulls to "top up" the pillow in a few months. What about allergies?
Buckwheat hulls are not a grain as the name implies but a fruit. Hulls are Hypo-allergenic - so very few people are allergic to buckwheat hull pillows. Only about one in six thousand people can not use the pillows because of their allergies. If you notice any allergic reaction such as itchy throat, watery eyes, runny nose, etc. discontinue use of the pillow. Please report any reactions to us and return the pillow for a refund. Do insects eat the buckwheat?
Buckwheat hulls do not generally attract insects. The hulls provide the natural protection to the buckwheat kernel from invading organisms so nature has not made them very appealing to insects - they are made of a tough fibrous material and they do not provide very much nutritious value. We have never heard of any of our pillows in regular use ever getting any infestation. If the pillow is going to be stored for long time, it should be placed in bag and stored in a dry place. How do I care for my pillow?
To clean the zippered pillow cover, empty the buckwheat hulls from it first. The zippered pillow covers (and cases) can be machine washed in warm water, tumble dried on a low heat setting, and iron if desired. We do not recommend cleaning the hulls as they take forever to dry and may encourage decomposition. However, if you really want to clean the hulls wash them gently in a big bowl or bucket without soap. Then strain them. Then spread as thin as possible over a flat surface to allow them to dry.
How are the hulls processed?
The buckwheat kernel is split in two - the buckwheat meal is removed to make buckwheat flour. The two left over hulls are sifted to remove small twigs and leaves and then vibrated and vacuumed several times to remove any left over buckwheat flour. |
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