Do You Sleep on a Healthy Bed?
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The best way for me to begin to really address the "health" of your bed is to introduce you to the age-old wonders of pure wool.
I have been developing alternative sleep environments since 1980, using the best natural materials I could find, namely organic cotton and wool.
Through my business The Natural Bedroom, I soon came to the obvious conclusion that wool is superior to any other fiber, natural or synthetic, when it comes to creating a "healthy" bed.
Here's why:
Wool handles moisture better than any other fiber. Completely mildew resistant, you, the sleeper, will always feel comfortable and never overly sweaty. There is no chance of mildew forming in the wool. (Mildew is one of the main irritants to the immune system, and people are often unaware of the presence of mildew in their bed).
Wool responds to your body temperature changes instantly, always keeping you in the comfort zone. Never too hot nor too cold.
This means wool will be comfortable in the winter as well as summer.
For couples who share the same bed but require different conditions for optimal comfort, wool allows for it, by acclimating accordingly.
Wool provides a wonderful resilient quality of support to your body. Again, it seems to cover the gamut of differing individual preferences, and is therefore a blessing to the couple sharing a bed. Wool can be a great relief for menopausal symptoms, as well as arthritic symptoms.
Wool has been a great friend to humanity for thousands of years the world over.
America lost its connection to wool when the industrial revolution introduced us wholesale to synthetics and their toxic counterparts. Europe never lost its appreciation for wool. Wool is their mainstay ingredient for quality bedding.
The wool I use is sheared locally and purchased directly from the woolgrowers. It is then washed and carded (combed into consistent layers batting). This very "pure" form of wool is used to make comforters and mattress toppers (or mini-mattresses), wool pads, wool comforters, and pillows, including neck-support pillows.
Untreated and unbleached cotton muslin surrounds the wool. There is no direct contact with the wool. You can completely surround yourself with the healing qualities of wool, top and bottom. I can guarantee that the improved quality of your sleep will be immediately obvious.
Now I would like to talk about the underlying mattress. This is what determines the quality of support. Most Americans have grown up sleeping on beds that are too soft and often it isn't until years later that this kind of support finally takes its toll and the body yearns for firm, solid support.
Spring mattresses (now filled with synthetic and toxic materials) are an American phenomenon. Europeans not only avoid boxsprings, but they also use significantly fewer innersprings. The spring mattress is in essence artificial support, and I consider it detrimental to good structural health.
Foam mattresses, the non-spring alternative, when placed on a solid base is a healthier form of support, but it does not breathe either, which leaves our skin stifled in its objective to detoxify and rebalance our whole system.
Good resting as a result of proper support will increase the normalcy of our biorhythms, our digestion, elimination, absorption, restoration, assimilation, immune and nerve system rebuilding.
I personally never liked the feel of the innerspring. As a child, I felt like I would roll off and fall on the floor, and so my choice was always the foam bed.
Finally, in 1980, I saw the first bed that I really liked. It was a hand-made, cotton-filled futon. It felt really friendly. I was so inspired I share-bought it for my sister's wedding.
Shortly afterward I moved from my home in Canada to northern California the land of the free and natural - but there was not a single cotton futon to be found. I searched for a clue on how to make these natural mattresses and was lucky to find someone who knew the traditional Japanese technique.
I started to give workshops so people could make their own natural mattresses, and I wrote how-to-manuals and materials and sold them by mail order. But the problem with cotton-filled mattresses (cotton futons) is that cotton has a tendency to mildew quite easily. Also, it dries too slowly.
Here is where the wool topper will help. The wool topper will remedy almost any situation, except the issue of mattress support quality.
If you are on a too soft mattress, obviously the wool topper will not remedy this situation. The simplest solution? A cotton futon or foam or latex mattress over a slatted wooden frame with a wool topper over it. This rather lightweight wool topper or pad can be easily aired and sunned - as the Europeans do - and moisture does not have a chance to settle in the underlying mattress.
So far, that is the best practical advice I can offer you.
You are welcome to visit our web site at Shepherd's Dream to learn more about our products and to learn how to get a brochure of the wool-filled bedding items we offer.
You can also call me, Eliana Jantz, at 1-800-966-5540 for a free consultation regarding your sleep needs. When you call during normal business hours, California time, please mention that you heard about Shepherd's Dream from Chet Day and Health & Beyond Weekly.
And, yes, you can always contact me via e-mail at jantz@sonic.net.
A Healthy Bed Checklist
By Eliana Jantz
O.K., so now its about time to investigate the quality of your sleep environment.
We've been improving many areas of our lives to enhance good health. We've come great strides in the quality of food we eat, clothing we wear, the use of natural medicinals we ingest, the routines and lifestyle patterns we adopt now how about something as simple and important as the environment we sleep in. Most of us relish the thought of slipping in between the sheets to surrender our wakefulness to the tranquility of a good nights sleep. So how about making sure that it's the best it can be.
Are you using 100% natural fiber and "untreated," breathable bedsheets?
Is your mattress what it's cracked up to be?
Is your bed frame providing you with solid, "real" support?
Do you understand and practice the art and science of maintaining the health of a "natural" bed?
Is the appropriate use of wool-filled bedding fully understood and utilized in your bedding environment?
Is the air quality in your room the best it can be?
Is your bedroom nontoxic and bacteria-free?
Is your bedroom your sanctuary?
1. ARE YOU USING 100% NATURAL FIBER AND UNTREATED, BREATHABLE BED SHEETS?
Natural fibers, when they are not treated with toxic chemicals, allow your skin to breathe while you sleep. Synthetic materials block this very important natural body process.
Beware. Most 100% cotton sheets on the market are treated with formaldehyde. This fact not only exposes you to toxic chemicals while you sleep, putting a strain on your immune system, but it also blocks air flow.
This toxic treatment was introduced in the 1950's to increase wrinkle resistance in cotton percale sheets and the chemicals cannot be washed out. I recommend cotton flannel sheets for the simple reason that they're not treated because they do not tend to wrinkle.
You must assume that all 100% cotton sheets (other than flannel) have been treated with formaldehyde, unless specifically labeled "untreated" on the packaging. Call us at 1-800-966-5540 or send an e-mail to jantz@sonic.net for more information on how to find untreated sheeting.
2. IS YOUR MATTRESS WHAT IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE?
There is something I call the "American Mattress Phenomenon." It began with the idea of the innerspring in the early part of the 20th century. It was thought to be a good idea to use metal coils for buoyancy. This evolved into yet another marketing scheme of adding coils to the box spring as well.
More metal coils add more unnecessary bulk.
The coils, besides creating an unnatural form of support, act like magnets for stray electromagnetic activity in your room. These intrusive strands of electromagnetic activity disturb your own natural electromagnetic field. The Central European science called BAUBIOLOGIE considers electromagnetic disturbances to be of foundational importance in assessing the human health standards of any given environment.
The public demand for healthy natural bedding is growing, and we will soon see a mattress option that is really a gem. My personal vision is a mattress which is completely wool-filled, 4" or 5" thick, and of reasonable weight. This would be a bona fide natural mattress. Shepherd's Dream is currently prototyping this product. Stay tuned.
You can currently upgrade your existing mattress by using Shepherd's Dream's wool-filled mattress mate in conjunction with your existing mattress. Other currently available mattress options to consider include...
THE NATURAL LATEX MATTRESS
Made from the milk of a rubber tree and partially breathable, you can use this in conjunction with a wool-filled mattress mate for an optimal, fully-breathable sleeping environment.
THE ALL-COTTON FUTON MATTRESS
Look for one without any synthetic, non-breathing fibers. Verify that both the cover and the fill is strictly cotton because any synthetic fiber content will reduce its breathability). Be aware that cotton has a low tolerance to mildew and therefore it needs the protection of the wool-filled mattress mate.
THE SYNTHETIC FOAM MATTRESS
Although this type of mattress is synthetic and non-breathing, it is coil-less, widely available, and inexpensive. Use one of these in conjunction with a wool-filled mattress mate to give yourself an optimal sleeping environment.
3. IS YOUR BED FRAME PROVIDING YOU WITH SOLID, REAL SUPPORT?
The most reliable way to get solid support is to begin with a quality slatted, all-wood frame. Try to avoid using bed frames that involve the use of wood by-products such as plywood or pressboard because these usually contain toxic glues and formaldehyde, substances that put a strain on your immune system.
4. DO YOU UNDERSTAND AND PRACTICE THE ART AND SCIENCE OF
MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF A NATURAL BED?
Natural fibers breathe. This interacts with your need to breathe. When you sleep, while you rest and dream, your body continues to fulfill many functions to maintain your health.
One of the most important functions is continual body detoxification. The body temperature fluctuates as it detoxifies. Higher body temperature causes the skin to release moisture in the form of perspiration, moisture absorbed by the mattress and underlying bedding. This is all right as long as the moisture absorbed by the mattress evaporates from night to night. But if the moisture remains on your mattress, it becomes a potential breeding ground for mildew.
In most European countries, airing the bedding is a common practice because they have always maintained a strong link to natural fibers, particularly wool in the area of bedding.
We need to be more like Europeans. In the morning, for example, the best practice is to unmake your bed. Open it up, pull back the sheets and the comforter and the wool-filled mattress mate, and let everything air out for several hours.
At least once every season, pick a sunny, warm day and take your wool-filled mattress mate, your wool-filled comforter, and your pillows outside to sun and air all day.
Adjust this routine according to need. In moister climates, or with higher than average perspiration, more airing is needed. Remember: the dryer the bed, the better. Sunning and airing also neutralizes odors and stains. The appropriate amount of sunning and airing enhances the wool's capacity to respond optimally.
With synthetic fibers, sunning and airing only helps the disintegration process -- a direct testament to the appropriateness of natural fibers for our optimal comfort.
Two layers of untreated sheeting can be used if necessary for extra protection over the wool-filled mattress mate. We also strongly advise you to use a comforter cover with the wool- filled comforter to protect against body oils and spills or accidents. This also is a European tradition -- natural fiber comforters will last a long time and therefore deserve the extra consideration.
5. IS THE APPROPRIATE USE OF WOOL-FILLED BEDDING FULLY UNDERSTOOD AND UTILIZED IN YOUR BEDDING ENVIRONMENT?
"Wool solved every major problem we had encountered in developing healthy, natural sleep environments." -- Eliana Jantz, founder of Shepherd's Dream
"Compared to polyester (synthetics) and other commonly used bedding fibers (cotton and down), wool as a fill fiber resulted in calmer heart rates, lower humidity next to the skin, and better maintenance of the optimal skin temperature for sleep of 91 degrees. And, wool-fill handles body moisture better than any synthetic fiber, cotton, or down."
-- Scientific studies conducted at Polytechnic institute of Wales
Wool deals effectively with moisture. Wool does not mildew and quickly expels moisture. Wool is an effective temperature regulator, and overheating does not occur with wool. Thus wool is suitable for all seasons and climates, as well as varying needs for partner sleeping.
Wool provides a resilient sleeping surface, like being cuddled by your own bed. Wool is naturally flame-resistant and will not sustain fire on its own accord.
Shepherd's Dream uses 100% unbleached, untreated, pre-washed cotton muslin to encase the wool-fill. This fabric is fully breathable and smooth to the touch and is utilized in every component of the Shepherd's Dream sleep system we call "Wool Surround."
If you want to make your own "Wool Surround" system, you'll need several essential elements for a consistently optimal sleeping environment. These elements include a wool-filled mattress mate, a wool-filled comforter, and a wool-filled sleep pillow.
The wool-filled mattress mate is the bottom part of the "Wool Surround" system and is of primary importance in effectively handling the moisture received by the underlying bedding.
The wool-filled comforter provides the top half of the "Wool Surround" system, and together with the wool-filled mattress mate creates a completely consistent and beneficial wool- influenced environment. The lightweight and warming/cooling qualities of wool make it an ideal fill for comforters.
The wool-filled sleep pillows provide a resilient and comfortable pillow. The wool helps the neck and shoulder muscles to relax.
The wool-filled neck pillows provide proper neck support with the added advantage of wool's relaxing influence.
If you'd prefer to purchase a "Wool Surround" system rather than trying to put your own together, you can get details below:
6. IS THE AIR QUALITY IN YOUR ROOM THE BEST IT CAN BE?
Compare the quality of air in your bedroom with the best possible scenario - sleeping under the stars in a natural setting. The quality of air you breathe plays an important role in the quality of your sleep. Open your windows wide and let the oxygen-rich air in. If winter temperatures dip too low, add blankets and keep the window open just a crack. You will wake up feeling much more refreshed.
7. IS YOUR BEDROOM NONTOXIC AND BACTERIA-FREE?
One of the most important things to check for is mildew. Mildew drains the immune system. Your present mattress is probably a high potential site for mildew to form and live on, particularly in humid and warm climate environments. The sleeping body creates its own little microclimate. As your body detoxifies, your body temperature will rise and fall, allowing your body to release moisture in the form of perspiration.
This moisture is absorbed by the mattress, and if the conditions do not allow this moisture to dry fully from night to night, it becomes the ideal breeding ground for mildew. Sometimes mildew isn't that easy to detect in its milder forms. For information on ways to detect mildew, call 1-800-966-5540 or send an e-mail to jantz@sonic.net
Wool is a tremendous aid in preventing mildew because of its inherent mildew-resistance and its ability to dry quickly. Even when moist, wool will not allow mildew to form within itself. The wool-filled mattress mate will be continuously and effectively adjusting the humidity level next to you, while protecting the underlying mattress from absorbing moisture. In cases of high perspiration, as during illness, menopause, or periods of greater detoxification, the wool-filled mattress mate should be aired out accordingly.
8. IS YOUR BEDROOM YOUR SANCTUARY?
Make your bedroom your chamber of rejuvenation - in body and spirit. Remove unnecessary clutter and distractions and only bring into your bedroom sanctuary what really adds to it. The place where you rest and dream is surely worth that.
by Eliana Jantz
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