By Laura Mordas-Schenkein / Source: Inhabitat

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A good night’s sleep is priceless this day in age. But chances are you haven’t given too much thought to your pillow. You know, the thing lying under your face, nostrils, and mouth every night? Nowadays most pillows are filled with chemical-based foams that are harmful to your health. Synthetic-filled pillows also don’t usually last more than six months before they begin to lose their support, which is hardly sustainable. And goose down and bird feather pillows are known for extremely unethical sourcing – who could sleep at night knowing that? So if you’re looking for an all-natural, cruelty-free option, you might want to consider buckwheat. One of the greatest things about buckwheat is its long-lasting factor. A buckwheat pillow is a one-time investment – once you have one, you’ll never have to buy another pillow again. That’s good news for the environment, and your wallet. One buckwheat-filled pillow we’ve tried is the Hullo Pillow. Granted, it may not be the soft, fluffy feel you’re accustomed to, but once you try it we can bet that you’ll be resting much easier than before. Intrigued? Read on to discover the benefits of buckwheat, and why you might want to consider changing up your bedding routine.

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Buckwheat pillows have been popular throughout Asia for centuries – as early as the 5th century B.C. Originating in China, buckwheat and its various uses spread to Central Asia, Tibet, the Middle East, and later to Europe. Unbeknownst to most, the buckwheat grain is more reminiscent of fruit than wheat. In fact, its closest relative is rhubarb. The buckwheat kernel is kin to a sunflower seed, wrapped in a hard outer hull. The gluten-free staple is rich in iron, zinc, and selenium and has been used for centuries in porridges, teas, beer and medicine.

In bedding and upholstery filling, buckwheat is prized for an ability to conform to the body and provide cool, breathable, and comfortable support. One of the great things about buckwheat pillows, is that they suit every person’s sleeping style. Whether you’re a side, back, or stomach sleeper, buckwheat pillows are known for conforming perfectly to the shape of your head and neck. The other great feature of buckwheat pillows, is that you can adjust the thickness to your personal preference by adding or removing hulls anytime. Buckwheat pillows also allow for greater air flow through the hulls, so there’s never a need to flip over to the “cool side of the pillow.”

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If you’re interested in exploring buckwheat pillows, The Hullo Pillow in particular is pretty environmentally-friendly, and made in the USA. It’s packed with buckwheat hull fill grown and milled right in North Dakota, and the pre-shrunken case is made with unbleached certified organic cotton. Want to try one out? You can try the small, standard or king size Hullo pillow for 60 nights, and if you aren’t satisfied they’ll even give you a full refund. If you’re interested, visit their website here. It’s worth a try – after all, this will probably be the last pillow you’ll ever buy in your lifetime.

Read more @ Inhabitat