Kapok Pillows
Kapok- It seems too good to be true!
The kapok tree is found throughout the Neotropics, from southern Mexico to the southern Amazon and even to parts of West Africa.
Kapok fiber is the floss from inside Kapok pods and is a fantastic filling for pillows because it is healthy, comfortable and long lasting.
Kapok is a wonderful mould & chemical free vegan alternative to toxic petrochemical microfibers, foam, latex, gels and synthetic pillows.
Kapok has been used for its warmth in thermal padded suits in the Arctic, as life vests because of its water resistant hollow fibres, as bullet proof vests (in the days of shot guns) and as wadding in sleeping bags.
The floss itself, once it is ripe, is entirely immune to pests of any kind. It may be gathered, worked, transported, stored and used in complete safety from vermin and rodents.
Kapok is almost magical. It is soft, smooth, hygienic, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, chemical free and environmentally friendly. One of the few sustainable rainforest crops, Kapok breathes allowing air circulation and can be reused for generations without developing mould or decaying.
A simple sunning will expand or puff up the kapok back to normal. Kapok is naturally antibacterial so dust mites cannot live in it, moisture resistant, therefore will not soak up your sweat. Kapok lasts for decades, and you can put it in the garden when you are finished with it!
Also known as the tree of life, the majestic kapok tree has many uses for humans. Its wood is lightweight and porous, good for making carvings, coffins and dugout canoes. The silky fibers that disperse from the seeds are too small for weaving but make great stuffing for bedding and life preservers. Soaps can be made from the oils in the seeds. Other parts of the giant tree are used as medicines. In ancient times, the Maya believed that the kapok tree stood at the center of the earth.
It’s something worth considering as a natural bedding alternative. I believe it has become less popular over time due to cheaper plastic filled pillows and the fact that kapok is highly flammable. It seems to be making a comeback and is worth considering if you’re on the lookout for a low tox pillow.
