Learn the pros and cons before you buy!

The Buckwheat Pillow has been utilized through out Japan and other parts of Asia for centuries as a result of the hulls therapeutic properties. The pillow then made its way across the ocean to Canada and North America. Organic buckwheat hulls are utilized in the pillows which is a contributing factor in the wide spread use. Air circulates through the pillow allowing it to cool at a faster rate. The hulls are organic and the cotton is not bleached making the pillows completely natural.

The pillow’s popularity increased as a result of the therapeutic nature of the hulls for those that needed additional support of the spine and neck. There are those that insist on the utilization of either these pillows or slight variations of them as a result of the benefits obtained. Those with allergies to feathers or foam use it as an alternative although some people can be allergic to the shells used in making these pillows. Users of the pillow have found that it has both good and bad points.

Benefits:

 There are advantages over fiber and feather pillows given by Buckwheat Pillows, including:

• On hot nights the pillow can assist in balancing the temperature under the face since air circulates in the pillow around the hulls.
• In traditional medicine buckwheat is utilized to counteract tension, stress, insomnia, headaches, and anxiety.
• Firmer support is provided to the neck and shoulders during sleep as the pillow conforms instead of collapsing like other types of pillows.
• The pillows can be refilled when the hulls degrade or can be emptied to be washed.

Flaws 

When deciding on a pillow it is important to find out about the flaws as well as the benefits. Some issues with Buckwheat Pillows include:

• The pillows are overstuffed making it necessary to remove some hulls in order to get the right amount for your comfort levels. The pillows are also rather heavy.
• The smell can be difficult to adjust to and has been described as a strong, unpleasant odor. Some users found the need to switch pillows and wash bedding to get rid of the smell.
• There is a crunching sound from the pillow that is loud enough to wake you up.
• Neck or shoulder pain can result from the pillow being too lumpy or feeling hard when rigid pillows are not what you are accustomed to.
• The hulls used to stuff the pillows can degrade to the point of dust with continued uses leaving a large mess.
• The seams are not all sealed allowing the filling to fall out of the pillow.
• Some found that migraines were made worse by the utilization of the pillow.
• The refilling of the pillows can be difficult after removing the hulls for washing the pillow.

Even though the BuckWheat pillow has been used for centuries, there are some imperfections with it. Fortunately…….there is now a solution to the imperfection. Introducing the Sobakawa cloud pillow; they took the imperfections and improved upon the buckwheat pillow.

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If you aren’t familiar with buckwheat pillows, you might think they’re harder to care for than other types of pillows, and opt instead for a less comfortable type of pillow that you know better. The care and cleaning of a buckwheat pillow is much simpler than it seems, though.

What it’s made with

The buckwheat pillow is obviously made of buckwheat hulls, and these hulls can’t get wet. This doesn’t mean your pillow will get dirty in a hurry, though. They are made of several pieces in order to minimize the washing needed, and you will find it actually needs less washing than other types of pillows.

The buckwheat hulls won’t get dirty, as they are dust free and don’t provide any nutritional value for organisms, thus preventing mites from settling in the pillow like normal pillows. They also don’t get any fungus problems, as they resist the heat necessary to incubate fungi.

Washing buckwheat pillow pieces

The inner pouch holds the buckwheat hulls, and will usually zip closed. A pillowcase, or outer case, stays between your head and the hull pouch, so if it is dirty, it’s easy to pull the pillowcase off and wash it like any other pillowcase. The Sobakawa buckwheat pillow comes with this kind of pillowcase, making it easy to care for.

If you need to wash the inner pouch for any reason, the buckwheat hulls can easily be emptied out into a clean bag while you wash it. Remember, the hulls can’t get wet, so check the seams and corners carefully by turning the pouch inside-out before throwing it into the washer.

Freshening your pillow

If you don’t want to wash the pillow or aren’t satisfied with the fresh smell this will produce, you can also freshen up the hulls by placing your pillow outside in the sunshine for a few hours – the more, the better, but make sure it won’t be too humid outside!

Of course, this method won’t work as well if it gets too hot or humid, so you can put your pillow in the freezer instead. This will help alleviate any worries about fungi or mites you may have, though most buckwheat pillows (including Sobakawa buckwheat pillows) are very resistant to these problems.

Caring for a buckwheat pillow

Over time, the filling of buckwheat hulls should hold its shape overall. Individual shells may rub together and smooth each other out, making it even more comfortable to sleep on, but they won’t usually break down for years.

If you find it isn’t supportive enough for you, it’s easy to unzip the inner pouch and add more buckwheat hulls (though be careful about this if you aren’t sure if you have a buckwheat allergy, of course). A fiber pillow will break down over a few years, but buckwheat pillows are much more resistant to long-term use.

The care and cleaning of a buckwheat pillow like a Sobakawa buckwheat pillow is relatively easy, so you can reap the benefits of this pillow without the hassles of cleaning a traditional pillow!

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