Buckwheat Hull pillow history

Buckwheat hulls are a byproduct of buckwheat milling. Flattened hulls are used as a high-quality mulch that is much sought-after by rosarians. In Japan, they are a traditional filling for pillows. For a number of years, orthopedic buckwheat hull pillows have been available in the US. A few years ago, a series of infomercials on television for "Sobakawa" pillows have increased awareness of buckwheat hull pillows, and demand for the hulls is great. A serious shortage of buckwheat hulls resulted. In the fall of 1997, several suppliers began marketing large quantities of hulls, both imported and domestically grown. By fall, 1998, industry sources said that the boom was fading some.

Buckwheat is harvested while the plant is still green. If the crop is not handled properly, there is the possibility of mold spores on the hulls. That is likely to be a problem if it is used as a pillow stuffing. The miller should be consulted so that appropriate lots of buckwheat are selected when keeping hulls for pillows.

Another potential concern is the dust from hulls and remnant flower parts. The airborne dust can be a significant allergen, also a concern with pillows. Again, consulting with the miller in advance is wise to assure that the hulls obtained are sufficiently separated from the dust. . All of the pillows that we carry have been carefully processed to minimize any dust.

Link to more information on cleaning hulls and on the potential allergic reaction.

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