Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Buckwheat Husks as a Material for Use in Therapeutic Mattresses

Agnieszka Nawirska-Olszańska, Adam Figiel, Elżbieta Pląskowska, Jacek Twardowski, Elżbieta Gębarowska, Alicja Z. Kucharska, Anna Sokół-Łętowska, Radosław Spychaj, Krzysztof Lech and Marek Liszewski
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Agnieszka Nawirska-Olszańska: Department of Fruit, Vegetable and Plant Nutraceutical Technology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
Adam Figiel: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
Elżbieta Pląskowska: Department of Plant Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 24A Grunwaldzki Sq., 53-363 Wrocław, Poland
Jacek Twardowski: Department of Plant Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 24A Grunwaldzki Sq., 53-363 Wrocław, Poland
Elżbieta Gębarowska: Department of Plant Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 24A Grunwaldzki Sq., 53-363 Wrocław, Poland
Alicja Z. Kucharska: Department of Fruit, Vegetable and Plant Nutraceutical Technology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
Anna Sokół-Łętowska: Department of Fruit, Vegetable and Plant Nutraceutical Technology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
Radosław Spychaj: Department of Fermentation and Cereals Technology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
Krzysztof Lech: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
Marek Liszewski: Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 24A Grunwaldzki Sq., 53-363 Wrocław, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Buckwheat husks are used in many therapeutic products such as pillows, mattresses, seats, etc. This material is proposed by producers for example for discopathy, back pain and head vasomotor disorders. Our studies evaluated the impact of using cotton mattresses with buckwheat husk fillings on people’s health condition. The main research was carried out on the group of 60 people divided into 3 groups (1—people with skeletal system problems, 2—people spending a lot of time lying with the probability of pressure ulcer formation and 3—healthy people). In addition, different tests have been carried out on the possibility of colonization of mattresses by fungi, bacteria and arthropod pests, and rheological, chemical and flammability tests. The research material in the form of buckwheat husks was tested in a diverse way. All tests indicate high usefulness of husks for therapeutic activity. This material was contaminated with fungi, bacteria and pests at a very low level, related to the natural colonization of buckwheat nuts during harvest and storage. The quality of the husks was also confirmed in rheological, chemical and flammability studies. Finally, this has also been confirmed in surveys conducted on people with health problems. The analyses show that the buckwheat husk is an excellent material that can be used to fill prophylactic mattresses. This has been confirmed by the results of laboratory tests and opinions of respondents using mattresses filled with buckwheat husk.

Keywords: buckwheat husk; prophylactic mattresses; natural products (ecological); pressure ulcer; microorganisms; pests (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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