This Unorthodox Pillow Eased My Neck Pain

Whenever I make a purchase, a trail of spreadsheets, notes, and bookmarks usually leads to that moment. Last summer, the object of my fixation was pillows, particularly pillows that would bring some much-needed relief from neck pain.

I had upgraded my mattress the year before because of nagging neck pain, ditching my $80 hard-as-brick mattress in a box for a “proper” $400 model. This provided some relief, but I was still waking up with unexplainable stiffness. After a bit of Googling, I learned that the lingering aches could also be caused by my pillow.

How I Found the Perfect Pillow for Neck Pain Relief

For months, I waded through reviews from Sleepopolis and Wirecutter, saving dozens of options to online shopping carts. I even asked my mom about my childhood pillows after deducing that the pain didn’t start until after I moved out. (They were some variety of Macy’s down alternative.) However, the decision fatigue was paralyzing, as was the idea of spending a hundred dollars on an item I wasn’t convinced about.

After about six minutes of being cradled in the pillow’s slight sink, I threw down $90 to take it home, sold on its instant proof of comfort and solid neck support.

I Chose a Pillow Made of Wool and Buckwheat

Then, a friend suggested I visit a local store in Santa Fe called Sachi Organics, a family-run company specializing in mattresses, bedding, and pillows crafted from natural fibers, which they also sell online. I walked in the next day, and after telling the woman at the counter what I was looking for, she asked me to lie down on what they called their Rejuvenation Pillow.

It featured two fillings—a layer of soft, comfortable wool on top of beanbag-like buckwheat hulls—encased in smooth sateen made from organic cotton. After about six minutes of being cradled in the pillow’s slight sink, I threw down $90 to take it home, sold on its instant proof of comfort and solid neck support.

I Tested My New Pillow for Ten Months. Here’s What Happened.

In the ten months since, my daily neck pain has completely dissipated. The buckwheat hulls provide better ventilation than other materials, meaning no head sweats—even in the dead of summer. The company recommends removing some of the hulls to achieve the loft that’s perfect for you (and to save those you don’t use at first, giving your pillow new life down the line).

It took me some time to get used to fluffing my pillow, but once I found the perfect distribution of hulls, it felt like the pillow was custom-fitted to my head and spine. Of course, while this pillow helped ease my discomfort, it’s certainly not a cure-all for more serious afflictions—see your doctor if you have chronic neck pain.

At the end of my quest for the best pillow, it turned out my pile of research amounted to nothing more than too many options. While that probably won’t change my ways, it was a reminder that sometimes a personal recommendation trumps weeks of online research. 

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