Pillow

[1] Use of pillows for comfort is particularly evident in arboreal mammals, with many species using tree branches for this purpose.

[6] Since domestication, many animals have also learned to make use of human-made pillows and cushions, as well as to rest on members of their own and other species, for this purpose.

[7] Archeology shows that early ground dwelling humans using stone and wood to craft pillows for comfort.

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

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

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

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

These pillows were stuffed with reeds, feathers, and straw in order to make them softer and more comfortable.

[11] 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.

[13] 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.

[16] Condition of the pillow can be determined by checking for lumps or folding it in order to see if it stays in that shape.

All types of pillow covers should be laundered periodically since they are the part that is in contact with a person's body.

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.

These pillows are generally used to support the lower back while driving or sitting, such as in an office chair.

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.

[23] 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.