Buckwheat Pillows

Buckwheat hull pillows built the way they're made in Japan: an organic cotton shell with a hidden zipper, filled with organically grown US buckwheat hulls that are screened three times at the mill and heat-treated twice, once there and once in our shop. Unzip to take hulls out or add them until the height is right for you. Sizes from a 4 x 12 neck roll to a 20 x 36 king, including the traditional 14 x 20 Japanese size. Made in Chicago.

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Woman resting on organic buckwheat neck roll pillow for cervical support in bed

Neck Roll Pillow - Buckwheat or Millet hulls, Organic WheatDreamz
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Buckwheat hull pillow with organic label for natural neck support sleep

Buckwheat Hull Sleep Pillows natural therapeutic neck support - Organic - WheatDreamz
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Organic buckwheat hulls close-up with cooling benefit text – natural pillow and cushion filling

Buckwheat Hulls -Craft, Pillow, Cushion Fill - Organically grown in USA
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Why people switch to buckwheat

A buckwheat pillow doesn't compress. The hulls slide against each other and lock into whatever shape your head and neck make, then stay there, so the support you had at 11 pm is the support you have at 5 am. Air moves through the gaps between hulls, so it sleeps cool. Side sleepers scoop a hollow for the ear and the shoulder; back sleepers push hulls under the neck for the cervical curve. That's the reason chiropractors recommend them and the reason they're HSA/FSA eligible through Truemed.

Two things to know before you buy. Buckwheat is firm: it feels more like a beanbag than a feather pillow, and most people need a week to adjust. And it rustles when you move. The sound fades as the hulls settle, and if it bothers you, millet hulls are quieter.

Which size

Size Fits Best for
Japanese 14 x 20 The traditional shape Back and side sleepers who want a low, compact pillow that stays put
Standard 20 x 26 Twin and full beds The most common pick; enough hulls to shape and still move
Queen 20 x 30 / King 20 x 36 Larger beds Sleepers who move around; more surface to shape
Travel / Toddler 13 x 18 Kids, car, carry-on A first buckwheat pillow for a child, or an office nap pillow
Neck roll 4 x 12 to 6 x 16 Under the neck or knees Cervical support on top of a flat pillow; lumbar in a chair

Buckwheat, millet or both

Buckwheat hulls are larger and firmer and lock together for the most solid support. Millet hulls are smaller and rounder, so they pour like fine sand, conform more closely and make almost no noise. The multigrain pillow is reversible: millet on one side for a soft surface, buckwheat on the other for structure. Flip it depending on the night.

Setting the height and keeping it

Start full. Sleep on it two nights, then remove hulls a cup at a time until your neck is level with your spine when you lie on your side. Keep the extra hulls; you'll want them back as the fill settles. When the pillow finally feels low years later, top it up with organic buckwheat hulls rather than replacing it.

Care

Never wash the hulls. Unzip, empty them into a tub, and lay them in the sun for an afternoon a few times a year to freshen and dry them. Wash the shell and a WheatDreamz pillowcase like any cotton bedding.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a buckwheat pillow last?

The hulls hold up for years if they stay dry. When they start breaking down into dust, refill with fresh hulls; the shell lasts far longer.

Is a buckwheat pillow good for neck pain?

It's the reason most people buy one. The hulls hold the neck's curve instead of collapsing under the head, so the muscles aren't working all night to hold position.

Are buckwheat pillows noisy?

There's a rustle when you turn over. It fades as the hulls settle. Millet is the quiet option.

Why is it so heavy?

Hulls are denser than fiber. A standard buckwheat pillow weighs several pounds, which is also why it stays where you put it.

What is a Japanese buckwheat pillow?

The 14 x 20 size, the traditional Japanese dimension. Lower and smaller than a Western pillow, which suits back sleepers and anyone who finds a standard pillow too tall.