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DIY Organic Buckwheat Relaxation Pillows
  • Natural Home

DIY Buckwheat Relaxation Pillows

Katie WellsDec 12, 2012Updated: Jul 30, 2019
Reading Time: 2 min

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Home » DIY Buckwheat Relaxation Pillows

We’ve switched to organic bedding, but organic pillows can be expensive. One less expensive solution I’ve found is to make our own organic buckwheat pillows using organic buckwheat hulls (and optional herbs) for a very comfortable and natural pillow. The same concept also works great for neck pillows and eye masks!

If you can sew a (somewhat) straight line, you can make these pillows and I actually find them more comfortable than regular pillows. If you make a whole pillow, it is more firm than a regular stuffed pillow, but also stays cooler and supports the neck better. Buckwheat hulls are pretty inexpensive, and adding herbs can help encourage restful and relaxing sleep.

I used about 5 pounds of organic buckwheat hulls and it made a pillow that was a little smaller than a regular pillow but that fit well in a regular pillowcase. I also added about 1/2 cup each of lavender, chamomile and yarrow for a gentle scent and for their relaxing aromatherapy properties. An even easier solution is to make a neck pillow that can be used with a regular pillow, or an eye mask with the herbs added to help improve sleep (and block sleep-disrupting light).

DIY Buckwheat Relaxation Pillow Tutorial

Relaxing homemade buckwheat pillows made from organic buckwheat hulls and herbs to help improve sleep.

Buckwheat Pillow Supplies Needed

  • A piece of fabric big enough to make the size pillow you want- I used organic cotton muslin
  • Organic Buckwheat Hulls to fill the pillow (about 5 pounds fills a normal size pillow without being too thick)
  • Optional 1/2 cup lavender flowers
  • Optional 1/2 cup yarrow flowers
  • optional 1/2 cup chamomile flowers

Instructions

  1. Cut the fabric into the size and shape you want your pillow to be (allow 1/2 inch extra for seams).
  2. With right sides together, sew three sides and half of the remaining side, leaving an opening to fill with the buckwheat hulls.
  3. Turn the pillow right side out and fill with the buckwheat and herbs (if using)
  4. Hand sew the opening to seal and viola! You have an organic pillow!

Notes:

Make sure to use a pillowcase on any buckwheat pillow as they are not washable. I don’t recommend using with potty training toddlers (I speak from experience… buckwheat and urine=not nice together). About once a month or so, I leave  the buckwheat pillows out in the sun to make sure they don’t retain any moisture and so that the sun can naturally kill any bacteria that accumulates.

Have you ever made your own pillows? Gonna try this? Share below!

Category: Natural Home

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (35 Comments)

  1. Katy

    October 14, 2014 at 4:23 AM

    I’m not very good at sewing, would this be a good alternative? I’m wondering if the barrier case would minimize the benefits of the herbs or the other case would let ingredients poke out… https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006GQX3CY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006GQX3CY&linkCode=as2&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=BTVYKWWW3LT6T3RA Thanks!

    Reply
  2. missy

    July 14, 2014 at 9:46 AM

    Simple and clever! I am excited to try it.

    Reply
  3. Cara

    June 11, 2014 at 1:52 PM

    what did you use as a pillow case?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      June 13, 2014 at 7:02 PM

      I use organic cotton muslin.

      Reply
  4. Jess

    February 22, 2014 at 11:50 AM

    I am having trouble finding organic cotton. Where do you get yours? I love your site! Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Anya

    February 16, 2014 at 11:05 AM

    Hi Katie, is buckwheat considered a grain to be avoided or is it health-permissible to be eaten?

    Reply
  6. Larimore

    May 5, 2013 at 10:42 AM

    Can these be microwaved to use as a natural heating pad?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      May 5, 2013 at 1:49 PM

      We don’t have a microwave, so I haven’t tried…

      Reply
    • Ryan

      September 9, 2013 at 11:54 AM

      Heating buckwheat hulls under most circumstances will result in a reduction of moisture they contain, causing them to become more brittle (broken, flat hulls are less than ideal for use in a pillow).

      Reply
  7. Jen

    April 22, 2013 at 9:46 PM

    How long do these pillows last before you recommend replacing them/making new ones?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      April 23, 2013 at 12:47 PM

      A year or more…

      Reply
      • Tracy

        February 11, 2015 at 8:53 AM

        I am VERY allergic to Buckwheat. What could I use for a replacement please. Any ideas would be welcomed.

        Reply
        • Jennifer L.

          February 11, 2015 at 2:38 PM

          You could use rice and lentils, or white rice and any kind of bean…

          Reply
        • Janice

          January 16, 2016 at 7:28 PM

          What about millet husks?

          Reply
  8. Ashley Rasdorf

    April 14, 2013 at 12:04 AM

    will the scents (lavender) last?

    Reply
  9. Linda Grooms

    December 14, 2012 at 4:52 PM

    Great idea! I’ve added Buckwheat Hulls to my MRH “wish list” to consider buying the next time I make a purchase (I try to group things to save on the shipping.)

    Reply
  10. Ray

    December 14, 2012 at 2:42 PM

    This sounds too easy, that means I *might* be able to pull this one off! lol

    Reply
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