The concept of the pillow dates back nearly 9,000 years to Mesopotamia when people used blocks of stone to raise their heads while they slept.
The ancient Egyptians are also believed to have rested their heads on stone to keep bugs from crawling into their ears, mouths, and noses. The ancient Chinese used ceramic, stone, or wood pillows. The Greeks and Romans used pillows made of cloth that were stuffed with feathers or straw.
Some individuals sleep better without pillows and others need 2 or even 3 to be comfortable at night. Try to choose pillows that do not trap heat as our bodies need to drop in temperature to sleep well.
Because pillows have become so important to our modern culture you can find a variety of pillows designed for various sleeping styles.
Thinner PillowsThese pillows are great for individuals that sleep on their back because they prevent the head from being too far forwards.
Firm, Thick Pillows
These pillows are good for people that sleep on their sides. They are designed to fill the space between the ear and shoulder.
Thin, Flat Pillows
These pillows are good for stomach sleepers. Some stomach sleepers do not need a pillow for their head, but instead place it under their stomach to prevent lower back pain.
Cervical Pillows
These pillows support your neck.
“Cool” Pillows
These pillows are designed to help women suffering from hot flashes.
4 Benefits of Sleeping Without a Pillow
While sleeping with or without a pillow is a personal preference, there are some medical experts that believe there are real benefits of sleeping without a pillow.
1. Spinal Benefits
Some argue that sleeping without a pillow is the healthiest method of sleeping as it greatly benefits the spine. Sleeping on your back without a pillow allows the spine to rest sully with the natural curves of the body. When you sleep with a thick pillow it can displace the spine.
2. Facial Benefits
Others argue that sleeping without pillows can help reduce wrinkles and other often considered unappealing facial features. This can be attributed to the fact that the face is not being squished against a pillow.
3. Sleep Benefits
Some argue that pillows interfere with quality sleep, especially when people use the wrong pillow. Sleeping without a pillow helps ensure quality sleep because the body is allowed to be at a normal level and not elevated like with a pillow.
4. Neck Benefits
The people that believe sleeping without a pillow is best for you argue that sleeping with a pillow can be a main source of shoulder and neck pain. It is still good to do stretches and use heat packs, but they say that the best way to alleviate neck pain is to sleep without a pillow.
While there are many reasons to sleep with or without a pillow most medical experts agree that it is more a matter of personal preference. If you find sleeping more comfortable without a pillow, then sleep without one. If, however, you find sleeping with a pillow more comfortable then do so, just make sure to purchase the right one based on your sleeping position.
