O.K., so now its about time to investigate the quality of our sleep environment. We’ve been improving many areas of our lives to enhance good health. We’ve come great strides in the quality of food we eat, clothing we wear, the use of natural medicinals we ingest, the routines and lifestyle patterns we adopt - now, … how about something as simple and important as the environment we sleep in.

Most of us relish the thought of slipping in between the sheets to surrender our wakefulness to the tranquility of a good nights sleep. So how about making sure that it’s the best it can be.

1. Are you using 100% natural fiber and ‘untreated’, breathable bed sheets?
   
   Natural fibers, when they are not treated with toxic chemicals, allow your skin to breathe while you sleep. Synthetic materials block this very important natural body process. ‘Be aware’ - most 100% cotton sheets on the market are treated with formaldehyde. This not only exposes you to toxic chemicals while you sleep, putting a strain on your immune system, it also blocks air flow.
   
   This toxic treatment was introduced in the 1950’s to increase wrinkle resistance in cotton percale sheets and cannot be washed out. I recommend cotton flannel sheets for the simple reason that they are not ‘treated’ because they do not tend to wrinkle. You must assume that all 100% cotton sheets (other than flannel) have been treated with formaldehyde, unless specifically labelled ‘untreated’ on the packaging. European sources are often ‘untreated’. We now have a California company that makes organic and untreated all cotton sheeting.
   
   Is your mattress what it’s cracked up to be?There is something I call the ‘American Mattress Phenomenon’. It began with the idea of the innerspring in the early part of the 20th century. It was thought to be a good idea to use metal coils for buoyancy. This evolved into yet another marketing scheme of adding the box spring as well. More metal coils and more unnecessary bulk. The coils, besides creating an unnatural form of support, act like magnets for stray electromagnetic activity in your room. These intrusive strands of electromagnetic activity disturb your own natural electromagnetic field. The Central European science called ‘BAUBIOLOGIE’, considers electromagnetic disturbances to be of foundational importance in assessing the ‘human’ health standards of any given environment.Now let’s talk about ‘natural’ support. For the past two generations, most Americans have been sleeping on the boxspring/innerspring combo mattress. This heavily marketed concept never caught on in Europe to any great degree, nor in Japan, nor any of the other ‘industrialized’ nations. The reason for this , I believe, is that other industrialized cultures had deeper roots in dependable and simple design, based on natural materials and more natural principles. Older, deeper cultures were not as willing to throw out the old for the new, as was the tendency in the industrialization of the New America. Synthetic fibers and coil mattresses were all the rage, and well funded American industries presented these new ideas to the American public with well funded marketing campaigns, who were soon buying these ‘bigger , better and softer’ American dream beds, ‘hook, line and sinker’. Now, after several generations of sleeping on spring beds, we find that our postures are sagging, and our innate sensibilities are nudging us to question these dubious beds, offered to us by our American industrial machine. But what is the alternative? What are the beds of an enlightened standard?

   A number of alternatives exist. Namely, latex*, futons*, foam*, water beds, air beds, and some very high tech combinations of some or all of the above. Although we confirm the health value of a ‘nonspring’ bed, we at Shepherd’s Dream depend on two foundational principles which go unheeded in all of the above mattress options.

   PRINCIPLE #1 - TOTAL BREATHABILITY THROUGHOUT!

   PRINCIPLE #2 - THE USE OF PURE WOOL - the most appropriate natural fiber for the sleeping environment.
   
   THE ALL WOOL MATTRESS:

   We now have the ALL WOOL MATTRESS, a bona fide ‘all natural’ mattress, to offer to the general public. Pure wool batting is placed inside a wool encasement. The wool batting is compressed by a well designed pattern of tightly tied tufts to create a 5″ thick mattress of reasonable weight. This ’stationary’ mattress is placed on a slatted frame for continual airflow. The ‘active’ wool fiber is extremely efficient at self neutralizing, which, with good airflow, ensures a dry and clean mattress. Wool’s innate mildew resistance ensures that this mattress will not mildew, since there is nothing but wool fiber in this mattress. (cotton has a tendency to mildew, as do most other natural plant fibers.) These are FIRM beds, and we make the general statement of regarding it to be the healthiest kind of support there is. This naturally firm mattress seems to encourage the body structure to assume its naturally correct posture and alignment. However, this optimal level of natural firmness does not suit the preferences of everyone, especially those who have learned to rely upon the ‘buoyancy’ of a ‘coil-spring’ mattress. (We are currently sourcing european style ‘flex slats’ to add buoyancy) But many individuals recognize their need for a healthy and firm sleeping surface, and their body quickly learns to sleep in correct postures again when switching to a naturally supportive, healthy and ‘breathable’ mattress.

   As a transitional measure, you can do a lot to improve your sleeping environment simply by using the WOOL SURROUND (mattress mate and comforter) together with your existing mattress.

   *the natural latex mattress - made with the milk of a rubber tree. ‘partially breathable’ - use in conjunction with the WOOL SURROUND for full breathability and ‘response-ability’ right next to your sleeping body.

   *the all cotton futon mattress - without any synthetic, ‘non breathing fibers’ (verify that both the cover and the fill is strictly cotton - any synthetic fiber content will reduce its breathability ). Be aware that cotton has a low resistance to mildew and therefore it needs the protection of the WOOL SURROUND.

   *Synthetic foam mattress- although this product is synthetic and non breathing, it is coil-less, widely available and inexpensive. Use in conjunction with the WOOL SURROUND to give yourself a more optimal sleeping environment.
   
   Is your bed frame providing you with solid, ‘real’ support?
   
   The most reliable way to get solid support is to begin with a quality slatted, all-wood frame. ( Avoid using bed frames that utilize wood ‘by-products’ such as plywood or pressboard - these usually contain toxic glues and formaldehyde - putting a strain on your immune system).
   Do you understand how to care for natural bedding?

   Natural fibers breathe. This interacts with your need to breathe. When you sleep, while you rest and dream, your body continues to fulfill many functions to maintain your health. One of the most important functions is continual body detoxification. The body temperature fluctuates as it detoxifies. Higher body temperature causes the skin to release moisture, ( in the form of perspiration).

   The moisture is absorbed by the mattress and underlying bedding. This is alright as long as the moisture absorbed by the mattress evaporates from night to night. If moisture lingers too long in your mattress, it is a potential breeding ground for mildew and mites. In Europe, airing the bedding is a common practice. This is so, because they have maintained a strong link to natural fibers in their bedding. Sunning and airing neutralizes odors and stains.

   The routine of ‘airing and sunning’ is adjusted according to need. In moister climates, or with higher than average perspiration, more airing is needed. The dryer the bed, the better. The appropriate amount of sunning and airing enhances the natural fibers’ capacity to respond optimally to our needs ( synthetic fibers are disintegrated by sun and air - a direct testament to its incompatability for our needs.)

   Do you understand the value of the WOOL SURROUND in your sleeping environment?

   “…Compared to polyester(synthetics) and other commonly used bedding fibers (cotton and down), wool as a fill fiber resulted in calmer heart rates, lower humidity next to the skin, and better maintenance of the optimal skin temperature for sleep of 91 degrees. And, wool-fill handles body moisture better than any synthetic fiber, cotton, or down.”

   -Scientific studies conducted at Polytechnic institute of Wales.

   Wool has a number of other qualities as well:

   1. The ability to deal effectively with moisture - wool does not mildew and quickly expels moisture. Wool is an effective temperature regulator - overheating does not occur with wool - this makes it suitable for all seasons and climates, as well as varying needs for partner sleeping.It provides a resilient sleeping surface - like being cuddled by your own bed.
   2. Wool is naturally flame resistant
      - it will not sustain fire on its own accord.

   Is the air quality in your room the best it can be?

   Compare the quality of air in your bedroom to the best possible scenario - sleeping under the stars in a natural setting. The quality of air you breathe plays an important role in the quality of your sleep. Open your windows wide and let the oxygen-rich air in. If winter temperatures dip too low, add wool blankets and keep the window open just a crack. You will wake up feeling much more refreshed.
   
   Is your bedroom nontoxic and bacteria-free?

   One of the most important things to check for is mildew. Mildew drains the immune system. Your present mattress is probably a high potential site for mildew to form and live on, particularly in humid and warm climate environments. The sleeping body creates its own little micro-climate. As your body detoxifies, your body temperature will rise and fall, allowing your body to release moisture in the form of perspiration.

   This moisture is absorbed by the mattress, and if the conditions do not allow this moisture to dry fully from night to night, it becomes the ideal breeding ground for mildew. Sometimes mildew isn’t that easy to detect in its milder forms. Wool is a tremendous aid in preventing mildew because of its inherent mildew-resistance and its ability to dry quickly.

   Even when moist, wool will not allow mildew to form within itself. The WOOL SURROUND will be continuously and effectively adjusting the humidity level next to you, while protecting the underlying mattress from absorbing moisture. In cases of high perspiration, as during illness, menopause or periods of greater detoxification, the WOOL SURROUND should be aired out accordingly.

2. Is your bedroom your sanctuary? Make your bedroom your chamber of rejuvenation - in body and spirit. Remove unnecessary clutter and distractions and only bring into your bedroom sanctuary that which enhances your wellbeing. The place where you rest and dream is surely worth that.