One of the most interesting green sustainable products on the global market that Feng Shui By Fishgirl has discovered is from Spain. Charcolive is producing restorative sleeping pillows made from naturally carbonized olive pits. The process–patented technology modeled after an ancient Far East formula– results in pits that look like this and are said to ionize the air, eliminate moisture, and have deodorizing properties, too. The company makes pillows, air fresheners, and a refrigerator item that keeps vegetables fresher/crisper for a longer time–all made with these pits.
The idea behind the pillows is the pits inside mold to you so they cradle your head and neck in the proper position throughout your sleep. Supposedly you get a more restful night that could help prevent headaches and cervical spine issues. I bet they could also help eliminate snoring if you get your head supported correctly with this pillow. They offer 3 versions, all come with their own removable/washable pillow cases and arrive shipped to you in a complimentary logo tote bag (a nice touch!). These babies are heavier than normal pillows and have a similar consistency to bean bags.
Frankly, I was skeptical to try these out but I’m glad I did. I often wake up perspiring from a hot flash—with this pillow absorbing the wet heat around my neck and face, I didn’t wake up and that was very cool. I also like to watch videos or read the Feng Shui By Fishgirl blog on my kindlefire at night in bed which often results in an uncomfortable crick in my neck. I tried the Charcolive Natura on top of a pile of regular pillows to keep my head in position– it definitely felt very supportive and I was not as sore the next day as I would be without this ergonomic solution. Be warned that the shifting pits make a crunchy noise when you move your head. For me, it is a natural”white noise” sound like a soothing rainstick. My boyfriend is more sensitive however and couldn’t deal with these “crunchy granola pillows” 🙂
I think the organic design benefits and environmental pluses of Charcolive pillows outweigh the negatives. These pillows are a more hygienic alternative to synthetic or goose down. Since they are designed to last –you “clean” them by removing the cover, shaking out the pillow and letting it soak up the sunshine outdoors for a couple hours every 2 months or so– they are a good deal and will not have the disastrous environmental impact that polyester filled pillows have. Good for health and good for the environment means good feng shui for all concerned.
Feng Shui By Fishgirl 