Buckwheat Pillows

removable pillow filling - buckwheat hulls

House dust mites are microscopic critters (extremely disgusting looking – I might add) that live on dead skin cells and dander. They are not known to carry contagious diseases, but do cause asthma and other allergic reactions.

It is virtually impossible to eradicate them, but the volume of them can be controlled. A single dust mite produces about 20 waste droppings per day, which contains a protein to which many people are allergic, and which cause reactions ranging from itchy eyes and chronically stuffy noses, on up to full blown asthma attacks. Estimates are that dust mites may be a factor in 50 to 80% of asthmatics, as well as unknown numbers of cases of eczema, hay fever, and other allergic reactions.

Ten percent of the weight of a 2 year old conventional pillow (as opposed to a buckwheat pillow) may be composed of dead mites and mite droppings. This is where the beauty and advantages of a buckwheat hull pillow shine. It is recommended that pillow coverings and cases be washed in very hot water at least every 2 weeks. The only pillow I know of with a loose filling that you can do this with, is a buckwheat hull filled pillow with a zipper. The other remedy is to discard the pillow at least every 6 months. That gets expensive, and a lot of dust mites can accumulate in a pillow in 6 months.

The important factor here is that the buckwheat hull filling itself does not support dust mite infestations, so when you wash the pillow cases and covers – problem solved.

Protect your family’s health and buy nothing but buckwheat pillows, including travel pillows – for obvious reasons. Just imagine what’s alive (and dead) in those motel and hotel pillows!