kidbean

Buckwheat is a fruiting plant related to rhubarb that is commonly eaten as a grain. The hulls, or husks that protect the kernels, may be used as a filling for pillows. The hulls are typically vacuumed or roasted to remove dust before being placed in the pillow insert.

The small size and uneven shape of the buckwheat hulls makes them an ideal pillow filling because the hulls constantly shift to provide contoured support to your head and neck while allowing air to flow freely through the filling. Buckwheat hulls are also considered hypoallergenic and are naturally resistant to dust mites.

Buckwheat has insulative properties, which makes buckwheat pillows ideal for people who sweat at night. It has been used as a pillow filling for centuries in Asian countries to relieve headaches, neck pain, lower back pain, muscle tension, stress, sleeplessness and snoring.

For more information, see the Wikipedia entry for buckwheat.

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