Charcoal (bamboo) pillow

Like bamboo, charcoal is another pillow material that the green community like to promote because it is renewable. In fact natural latex, feathers and down and many other pillow and mattress materials are also obtained from renewable sources. Even visco elastic foam uses materials that are renewable.

All of this probably helps to explain why charcoal is only one component in a pillow whose primary structure will be composed of another material like visco elastic memory foam. Charcoal and bamboo are also very commonly found as a double act in these pillows, this is because the charcoal used is normally obtained from burning bamboo.

The bamboo used is grown in large parts of Asia (e.g. Korea and China) and once fired and converted into charcoal it is called black diamond.

What does charcoal do in a pillow?

Throughout history charcoal has been used in various forms for medical and therapeutic purposes and its use in pillows (and sometimes mattresses) is a continuation of this application. The charcoal obtained from bamboo has high levels of minerals like iron, sodium calcium and potassium and these, it is claimed, can benefit people sleeping or trying to get to sleep.

The other (more verified) feature of bamboo charcoal is its affect on the air and any impurities that are in it. This charcoal is a natural deodoriser and it will help to purify and clean the air in the bedroom. As many people know, putting charcoal or even coals in a smelly area (e.g. a room or a car) will remove the odour and provide fresher smelling air.

Further benefits of bamboo charcoal are said to be its elimination of magnetic waves. Some people believe that magnetic therapy is desirable and sleep with a magnetic duvet, however others believe that removing magnet forces is beneficial. The charcoal bamboo is said to help in this case.

Finally, the charcoal is said to generate negative irons and to produce infrared rays. Again how significant this is and how far reaching the benefits are is unknown, but the use of these pillow and mattress products is increasing.

Benefits

Exactly what the appreciable benefits of many bed and bedding products are cannot be (or has not been) measured. Even so, there are a great number of people who believe that bamboo charcoal pillows can aid restful sleep, reduce headaches and migraines, make the body feel more relaxed and generally promote better sleep quality. How true these claims are is difficult to establish, but their increasing popularity may be an indication.