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Allergies
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Silk Bedding & Allergies Silk doonas, mattress protectors, pillow protectors and pillows can be a godsend for those suffering from various allergic reactions and general allergies - both severe and minor. But take care when choosing which silk bedding you purchase, as not all silk bedding is created equal, and some are manufactured in such a way that in the long run they can cause the problems they should be solving (this is explained in more detail at the end of this article). One of the most fruitful sources of irritants and allergic reactions is our bedding. This is an area where we spend a large portion of our lives in close contact with various fabrics and what they harbour. What the fabrics are made of can also be of major concern. If our doonas or other bedding are not clean, or they are not right for our particular needs, they can potenitally be a hidden reason behind many other problems. The wrong bedding can house, breed or otherwise assist and enhance the following sources of allergens and irritants:
If your sleeping environment is not right, it can be the source of constant irritation, allergic reactions and poor sleep. Feathers & Down: While many people love their feather and down doonas and wouldn't think of changing, they are generally unaware of the myriad of barriers they present to a good restful night's sleep. Many people are allergic to various kinds of down and feather fill, and if they are not directly allergic to it, they tend to be irritated by the tiny feather particles that inevitably make their way into the air we breathe. Feather and down doonas also tend to be a great place for dust mites to breed and as most people tend to overheat and sweat under their feather doonas, the doonas end up becoming filled with body oils and general dampness. Because most feather and down doonas cannot be easily washed many people get them dry cleaned which, in addition to a fairly large yearly expense, results in more potential harmul irritants going into the bedding that we can breathe in or directly expose to our skin. Feathers tend to break down over time and turn into a sort of "feather dust" which adds more fine particles into the air and also means the doona will eventually need to be refilled. Polyester/Microfibre While polyester initially tends to be naturally dust mite resistant, this potential benefit is overshadowed by the negative effects of making one hot and sweaty, resulting in body oils and dampness being trapped in the bedding. Additionally, as polyester is an oil based substance, oils, dirt and various stains tend to adhere to it and make it very difficult to fully clean. This is all in addition to the fact that polyester is not a natural fibre and many people find it unhealthy and irritating against their skin. Wool As with feathers, because wool is intended by nature to be an insulator it traps air and dampness and tends to make one hot and sweaty. Hot/Cold The situation of getting hot tends to lead to one overcompensating by throwing the covers off, result in one then getting cold. This tends to aggrevate breathing and other problems. Silk Bedding Silk has many features that make it a superior choice for those with allergies. Because the raw silk breathes incredibly well it does not form a hot air pocket under the doona. This means instead of getitng hot and cold one tends to stay at a nice constant comfortable temperature. It is additionally naturally dust mite resistant and tends to inhibit the growth of mould, mildew and bacteria, and silk also has no particles that break up and go into the air. Because you don't tend to sweat under silk, and because it doesn't trap air or moisture, the doona stays very clean. The right kind of silk bedding is made using continuous long strand silk that is stitched in place. This means the silk will never shift, mat or clump. It also means you can wash and tumble dry the doona in your own washing machine, avoiding the use of harmful dry cleaning chemicals and saving you money. Silk Filled Mattress Protectors and Pillow Protectors You can make a complete silk sleeping environment by adding a silk mattress protector (mattress topper) and silk filled pillow protectors. These are made the same way as the doonas with raw silk strands inside a 100% cotton shell. Our silk filled pillow protectors are particularly beneficial to people with allergies as this puts raw silk right near the most important part of the body, where we breathe. Choose Wisely Don't just choose any old silk doona or base your decision only on price. As covered above, not all silk bedding products are the same. You will find most of them are made with stretched out silk or silk batting, not long silk strands like our doonas. This means they cannot be easily cleaned and so when they get dirty they tend to stay that way. In some instances people with these doonas resort to dry cleaning which fills their bedding with dry cleaning chemicals which defeats the purpose of healthy bedding.
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