Pillow

[1] Use of pillows for comfort is evident in arboreal mammals, particularly members of Panthera and Hominoidea with several species observed selecting specific parts of tree branches for this purpose.

[6] Natural resting postures, such as the use of a laterally rotated arm or leg, may be superior to artificially created pillows in the reduction of stiffness and pain in the joints, and allows an animal to stay more alert to danger by keeping both ears open.

Tree dwelling orangutans typically use twigs to create them[8] while chimpanzees have been observed making them on the ground from leaves.

[9] Though it may also have led to longer periods of REM sleep, that in turn increased their cognitive capacity.

[9] Humans began making beds 227,000 years ago in Africa made from ash and grass.

[10] Recent evidence from 185,000 years ago at Misliya Cave shows that Neanderthals did similar.

[10] Much later humans began switching to use of separate stone and wood to craft pillows for increased comfort.

[1] The earliest recorded use of the modern human device dates back to the civilizations of Mesopotamia around 7,000 BC.

[12] Pillows have long been produced around the world in order to help solve the reoccurring problem of neck, back, and shoulder pain while sleeping.

[13] Besides for comfort, the pillow was also used for keeping bugs and insects out of people's hair, mouth, nose, and ears while sleeping.

[14] The Romans and Greeks of ancient Europe mastered the creation of the softer type pillow.

[15] People in ancient Europe started to use pillows when going to church in order to kneel on while praying and to place holy books on.

Over many Chinese dynasties, pillows were made from a wide range of materials including bamboo, jade, porcelain, wood, and bronze.

[17] The Chinese decorated their pillows by making them different shapes and by painting pictures of animals, humans, and plants on them.

Fillers are chosen on the basis of comfort, resilience, thermal properties, cost and also for medical and ethical reasons.

The most common synthetic fillers are materials derived from polymer fibers, such as polyester and memory foam.

Synthetic fillers in general are inexpensive and in the case of memory foam can retain their form longer.

Manufacturers recommend tumble-drying for fifteen minutes every week to freshen them up, and for the heat to kill dust mites.

While some animal shelters accept forms of bedding, most reject donation of used pillows due to the mess they can cause.

Apart from the color and from the material of which they are made, pillowcases have three contrasting characteristics: Size conforms to the pillow the case is to contain.

[This quote needs a citation]"Housewife is ... essentially a bag, with a flap in the open end to tuck the pillowcase behind to keep it in..."Other methods of closure are ties or buttons/buttonholes.

Cervical pillows help patients to maintain comfortable positioning after therapeutic, orthopedic and surgical measures.

Their "U" shape fits around the back of the neck and keeps the head from slipping into an uncomfortable and possibly harmful position during sleep.

Decorative pillows are also found on furnishings in more public parts of the home, such as sofas, chairs and window seats.

For example, unless a person has some particular medical condition, they will likely use a handy decorative pillow for lumbar support, as needed, while seated on a sofa.

[27] In many parts of the world, pillows have cultural significance, and references have extended to a wide variety of other uses, forms and activities.

An example is the Dakimakura, a kind of "hugging pillow" originating in Japan that have been endowed with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic qualities and pop culture references for additional psychological comfort.

The heft of a pillow can still knock a young person off balance, especially on a soft surface such as a bed, which is a common venue.

[citation needed] Originating in the Ming dynasty, this piece of material was trusted to cure headaches or depression, or simply to better the intelligence of those who use it.

A very common use of a sex pillow is to place it under the receiving partner's buttocks or hips before assuming the missionary position; this pivots the pelvis and increases depth of penetration.