Buckwheat - an ancient plant
Buckwheat is an old crop that supposedly originated in Southwest Asia. There it has been cultivated for thousands of years. Buckwheat is naturally gluten-free and has excellent nutritional values. In Japan, chaff has been used as a pillow and mattress filling material for hundreds of years. The philosophical basis of traditional Japanese medicine - "cool head and warm feet"- also supports this use of chaff. In this case, the body is balanced and feels good.
Where did I come up with the idea for the material and why do I use buckwheat chaff in my products?
Buckwheat chaff as a material is very ecological. I longed for a functional and long-lasting natural material for my products and after a bit of research and trying different options, I ended up with buckwheat chaffs.
Buckwheat chaff is created as a by-product of grain peeling. In buckwheat, the shell can account for up to 25% of the weight, so it makes sense that good further uses have been invented for the shells. Otherwise they would be burned as energywaste. Buckwheat is not genetically modified and there is no need for pesticides in its cultivation. Thus, it is a very pure material and therefore it is precisely perfect for pillows on which we spend sleeping about a third of our lives.
The chaff is very long-lasting in use (from four years to up to ten) and their circulation does not end with the filling material of the pillow. When you empty the chaff pillow, you can still compost or recycle the used chaff as mulch material in the garden, vegetable garden, or even for potted plants in your home. Alternatively, they can also be burned.
As a filling buckwheat chaff has excellent features. Compared to a regular pillow, the chaff cushion is sturdy. It holds well in shape and does not sag . Thus, its neck and head supporting properties are perfect. The pillows I sew have a zippered opening in the pillow bag that allows you to adjust the amount of filling to suit your needs. The amount of filling can be different depending on whether you sleep more on your side and back or if you prefer to lie on your stomach.
The chaff does not store heat or cold, that is why the user of a chaff pillow always has a pillow of a suitable temperature
The triangular chaff of buckwheat is cup-shaped in shape, you can see this in the top photo very well. It is the shape that makes the chaff filling airy. The chaff does not become flat when used, but air pockets remain in the pillow, which keeps it cool. The chaff also does not store heat or cold, but as a user of a chaff pillow, you always have a pillow of a suitable temperature. So the chaff pillow is the perfect choice for a sleeper who sweats easily - for example, during menopause!
The material itself is hypoallergenic, i.e. it is not suitable as a breeding ground for bacteria, fungi or dust mites. Due to its airiness, the chaff pillow can also ease skin problems in the head area, such as dry scalp and acne.
Buckwheat chaff is also a completely vegan product.
The chaff pillow is the perfect choice for a sleeper who sweats easily - for example, in menopause!
How to take care of a chaff pillow?
After all, the chaff pillow is very easy to care. It loves airing. In summer the sun, and in winter the frost, do the pillow good. When used in the warm sunshine, the polished chaff curls back into their convex shape.
Although chaff tolerates moisture, they are not to be washed. A heavy chaff pad can break the washing machine, putting it out of balance. And the chaff itself does not need washing, only the pillow bag is washed. For washing, the pillow is emptied into a (paper) bag and the fabric part of the pillow is washed as needed at 60 degrees Centigrade. In use, you can protect the pillow from greasy face creams and sweating by using a separate pillow sachet under the pillowcase or alternatively two pillowcases on top of each other. Thus, you will increase the washing interval and the age of the pillow.
In which of all my products do I use buckwheat chaffs?
Pillows for a good night's sleep were the obvious and the first option for utilising the material. I received good feedback on my products and started to get inquiries about products suitable for relaxation and yoga.
That is how the sturdy yoga bolsters and smaller relaxation rollers were born, which adapt well to the needs of the user. Like sleeping pillows, larger pillows have a zippered opening in the inner bag, so you can adjust the amount of filling to suit you. The filling can also be increased as needed. With prolonged use, the volume of the chaff is reduced by 5-10%, slightly depending on the batch of chaff.
The newest product in my assortment is eye pillows for relaxation. For those I use not only chaff, but also rice to give weight. This pillow, which is placed on top of the eyes, is a great help for example, for falling asleep and if you need additional help with relaxation. The low weight on the eyes directly affects the nervous system, which then calms the body.
What about the downsides to chaff?
Because a chaff pillow is so different in its properties from a regular cotton or down pillow, it can take two to three nights to get used to it. After the first night, it is still not worth giving up, usually the third night will tell you if the pillow will work for you.
Dry buckwheat shells rustle a little as the sleeper moves. Some can be disturbed by this sound. However, most users find the sound soothing and after a while the whole thing is hardly noticed.
In addition, even a restless sleeper usually fluffs the chaff pillow that holds its shape much less often during the night, thus the sound does not become a problem.
The chaff pillow is heavier than a regular pillow. A standard 50x60 cm pillow can easily weigh more than a kilogram.
Since the chaff is a natural product, it has a delicate grainy scent when it is new. I didn't even notice it myself, even though I'm quite scent-sensitive. However, it is good to take this into account when considering the purchase of a chaff pillow. The fragrance evaporates during the first weeks of use.
The chaff pillow is also much heavier than a regular pillow. It comes as a surprise to many that an ordinary 50x60 cm pillow can easily weigh more than a kilogram. Since the chaff batches are slightly different in volume, the weight of the pillows also varies from one production batch to another.
All in all, the chaff is a great choice as a filling. I have been making pillows for three years now and have received a huge amount of good feedback on them. Having sold hundreds of pillows, only 2 have come back as customer returns because the pillow was not suitable for the sleeper.
Below I have collected customer feedback on my chaff pillows for a good night's sleep. Would you be the next user?
Lovely chaff pillows! The best sleep in years!
I received this pillow as a gift last Christmas. On the first night, a little bit of a crunch emanating from the pillow. In the morning, I already knew that there would be a good future for the pillow and me. And that's what happened, I'll never give up the pillow. Great pillow!
It is a good pillow to sleep on!