A little nighttime reading
HOW CAN THE ARA BUCKWHEAT PILLOW HELP WITH NECK PAIN?
Intrigued by the option of using a buckwheat pillow for neck pain? Here's the lowdown on why a buckwheat pillow can provide therapeutic support and comfort for those with neck and cervical pain issues.
Sleep specialists advise that, for best support and minimal pain, people should sleep on a pillow that keeps their spine in “neutral alignment” (aka straight). The head, neck and spine should remain aligned while resting on the pillow. When it comes to sleeping on a pillow, make sure that your chin or head are not elevated too far forward or fall too far back. The pillow height that enables this alignment will vary, depending on the individual’s sleep position and body.
Why is a buckwheat pillow recommended for those with neck pain or cervical pain issues?
Although buckwheat pillows are less familiar in the U.S., these pillows are popular in some Asian countries -- and for good reason. Here’s why.
Personalized, yet firm feel: A buckwheat pillows offers individualized comfort and height, while providing consistent support. Unlike foam or polyester fill, buckwheat hulls can be maneuvered to fit the contours of your head and neck.
Everybody's body is individual with unique curves and shapes. When you use a rigid pillow whose fill can't be maneuvered around (like with memory foam), the pillow may touch, rub against and create pressure points in places on your body that don't "fit" the pillow's shape.
With buckwheat pillows, once the hulls are positioned to fit your body, they then stay in place, forming a firm surface. The hulls do not move or flatten, so you won’t lose crucial support for muscles. The fill is less likely to shift during the night (as feather pillows often do, which can force your body out of alignment).
Adjustable for any sleep position: No matter if you sleep on your back, side or stomach, a buckwheat pillow can accommodate the sleep position. These pillows typically come with zippered covers so you can remove or add hulls to adjust the height. The hulls can also be maneuvered to attain comfort for any position and any body type.
If you're a back sleeper, you can create a divot in the hulls to cradle your head. If you're a side sleeper, you can push the buckwheat hulls towards the bottom of the pillow to support the space between your neck and mattress. Or if you're a stomach sleeper, you can remove buckwheat hulls to get a thin pillow that keeps your head close to the mattress.
Sleeps cool: Buckwheat pillows are naturally breathable and do not retain heat like some memory foam can.
Hypoallergenic: Unless you have a rare buckwheat allergy, a buckwheat pillow is suitable for those with respiratory allergies. As buckwheat hulls are not nutritive to invading organisms, they also repel common allergens that otherwise build up in other pillows, including fungus and mites.
All-natural: Buckwheat hulls are a plant-based material, often encased in cotton covers to make a pillow. They are one of the few firm pillow options that is made entirely of natural materials.
Lasts for years: A buckwheat pillow, with proper care, can retain its support and last a lot longer than a synthetic pillow, which breaks down and deteriorates from dirt, oils faster over time.
Alternative uses: Given its unique properties, a buckwheat pillow can be used for additional purposes. For example, yoga practitioners can use one as an alternative to a blanket or bolster in restorative poses. These pillows also make great meditation cushions. They can be used for lower back support during reading or working in front of a computer. Or try placing the dense buckwheat pillow on top of your legs or stomach during sleep for a soothing, weighted feeling.
A buckwheat pillow can be rotated into use with other pillows. Some people alternate sleeping on a softer pillow some nights...and then use a buckwheat pillow other nights when their muscles are particularly sore.
Why is Slumbr’s Ara Buckwheat Pillow the best buckwheat pillow for neck pain?
Slumbr only sells pillows made with care, using the highest quality materials. Having evaluated over 250 pillow types, Slumbr has done the homework to determine what makes a difference (and what doesn’t) for the comfort and quality of your pillow, including the Ara Buckwheat Pillow.
Slumbr’s Ara Buckwheat Pillow has the following features:
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- Made in the USA: Filled with 100% organic buckwheat grown in the USA, then cut and sewn in the USA by a small family-owned factory
- Extra pillowcase: Comes with an extra unbleached cotton pillowcase that's fit-to-size
- Flattened hulls: The buckwheat hulls have already been crushed, flattened and polished before being placed in the pillow, which has a few advantages -
- Hulls don’t poke through; pillow feels smoother against your head or cheek
- The pillow's height and level of support remains consistent for years; hulls won’t crush and collapse with usage (which makes the pillow lose height)
- Less dust; hulls won’t release dust and debris that can aggravate allergies; this dust can be released if the hulls aren't flattened already, as they get crushed over time
- Compact size: Is a smaller size (14” x 20”). Given buckwheat’s heft and weight, this smaller size is more manageable, while providing ample surface for your head
- 30 Moon Trial: Slumbr offers a 30 Moon trial period so you can try the pillow for an extended period of time. A buckwheat pillow can take time to get used to, given its unique feel, but is worth it for so many sleepers
What are sleepers saying about the Ara Buckwheat Pillow for neck pain?
"After years of chronic neck pain and exploring various methods for addressing it (purchasing many different types of pillow, massage, physical therapy, ectc.) I found a winner with the Ara. I am going on 7 months of happy use and nearly no neck pain. Super impressed."
"I am a side sleeper and have been struggling to find the right pillow for the last 3 years. I was waking up every morning with horrible neck pain. A friend suggested I check out Slumbr and within minutes I had the Ara on its way to me. I've had it for 4 days now and have noticed a significant improvement in how I feel when I wake up."
"After receiving the pillow in the mail, I had some doubts about how comfortable buckwheat would be to sleep on. It was kind of hard. But after a month, I can report that the Ara improved my sleep quite a bit. What I’ve realized was that with the Ara, I don’t toss and turn as much. Most of the time now, I stay on my back the entire night, which is kind of a surprise."
"It took a little bit to get used to the stiffness, but in the end it helps so much with my neck pain!!"
The Slumbr Ara Buckwheat Pillow is sold at Slumbr.com for $65, making it a great value. If you’re interested in trying the Ara, check it out here!
