The History of Pillows

Everyone loves a good comfy pillow. Pillows have become a ubiquitous piece of every household today and are considered indispensable for almost every human being on the planet.



Almost all civilizations have used some form of pillows for comfort and enhancement of life. It's hard to imagine life without them these days. In fact, since the dawn of recorded history, man has sought to solve the age old problems of neck and shoulder pain and interrupted sleep through the creation and refinement of pillows.



The history of pillows dates back to ancient times. Initially, pillows were used only by the rich and the affluent. Pillows symbolized status, therefore the more pillows one owned, the better off the family was considered to be. In the ancient tombs of Egypt, they were found to be used as head rests. Since the head was considered the essence of life and therefore sacred; the Egyptians pillows were adorned before placing this important part of the body on it. But, unlike the modern pillows, these were made from stone!



Hard pillows were the order of the day for people believed in the theory that a hard substance would uphold body vigor and blood circulation and would keep demons at bay.



The Chinese dynasties used pillows made from bamboo, jade, porcelain, wood and bronze and decorated them with geometric shapes and pictures of plants, humans and animals. As more and more intricate dyes and patterns cropped up they turned into valuable commodities and developed into an art form.



However, the composition of the pillow evolved over time. Pillows of ancient times were the least cushy, mostly made from solid wood or stone with little carvings in the center. Later, pillows became gradually softer in medieval times when China was highly acclaimed for making ornamented pillows; followed by Europe, which popularized embroidered pillows. And some pillows were also stuffed with herbs to stimulate sweet dreams, cure diseases and restore beauty.



The privileged class of Greece and Rome used pillows made from softer materials like reeds, feathers and straw. Sewing pillows to perfection and the use of sophisticated dyeing techniques became a skill by itself. Church goers began carrying pillows to churches to kneel on it and also to place the Holy Bible on it.



Pillows gradually started receiving more and more prominence in the 16th century.

For some time in the early 16th century the use of pillows was restricted only to expecting mothers during labor by the then monarch of England Henry VIII, however the popularity of pillows soon compelled the impetus monarch to retract his statement.



It was during the Industrial revolution that mass production of decorated pillows and textiles was made and pillows became accessible to the common man and entered the homes of millions regardless of class and earnings. The pillow turned into a staple accessory of every home with people making the best use of foreign furnishings.



Today they are made from an array of fibers; these include down, foam, cotton, sponge and even feathers. Now, pillows are a part of every bed, chair and sofa, the furniture would rather look incomplete within them. Nowadays, there are pillows for people suffering from neck, back and shoulder pain as well. But we cannot stop ourselves from extending our sympathies to the ancient Egyptians Pharaohs who had no choice but to sleep on pillows made from stone.



Some years back, these pillows laid flat on top of beds. People then simply laid their heads on them, creating a simple leverage to maintain a little height for the head. However, this resulted in neck strain and other uncomfortable feelings when people slept on them.



Scientists and doctors have reported that different body parts need certain support when we sleep. Especially for those who need extra support and comfort, there are a number of modern materials nowadays which target the consumers' comfort. There are some specialty pillows which are specially designed for certain body parts. Cervical support pillows and stomach sleeping pillows are some examples of such.

Materials such as high grade foam or memory foam can scientifically improve one's comfort in bed, thereby improving his or her sleep in the long run. Thus, many improvements have been made to pillows today as compared to some years ago.



Of course, pillows are not only used in bed. They can generally improve your body's comfort regardless of where you are. For those who sit all day, you may want to support your back and get a lumbar pillow. This effectively cradles your back, contouring gently to the curves so your back receives the support that it needs while maintaining comfort. Lumbar pillows can also be used to elevate your legs while you sit down or lay down on your bed.



Nowadays, manufacturers practically have every possible pillow configuration to get a good night's sleep. From side sleep pillows, adjustable pillows and even travel neck pillows, that perfect pillow is just waiting to give you a good night's sleep.ToTillow Pillow is a side sleep pillow, it is one of the best custom pillows designed by a Chiropractic Doctor. It's unique shape make it ideal as a cervical support pillow.

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