Some people cannot tolerate artificial pillow fillings. Their only choice is natural pillow fillings which may be any of the following:

~Down which is the fine layer of soft, fluffy feathers found under the main feathers of birds and goose.
~The larger bird feathers are also used to fill pillows.
~ Cotton filled pillows are excellent for people with certain allergies and chemical sensitivities.
~ Less popular but nonetheless being used by some people are pillows filled with husks and seeds, often buckwheat and millet.

Buckwheat hull neck pillows are said to provide a firmer support while molding themselves to individual shapes. They are also less prone to mites than some other pillow fillings. The buckwheat hull inside the pillow tends to produce a rustling sound that some find soothing while others find irritating. There are contradicting opinions on the anti-allergenic qualities of the buckwheat hull as filling for pillows.