Wool fabric has been in use by human beings for around 10,000 Bce. Its primary use nowadays is for making comfy a wool blanket and winter clothing. They are also used to make carpets, decor and interior textiles. Its unique properties make it the perfect fibre for performance and sportswear. Some of the health benefits of wool are not as well known. Here are some of the more little known capabilities of the wool fabric.
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Regulates heart rate
Wool fibres can be good for the heart. An experiment by the polytechnic institute of Wales looked into the effects of woollen fibres on sleeping human subjects. The primary observation revealed that wool wicked away moisture from the body and kept the skin dry. The study also showed that a wool blanket lowered heart rates. Reduced heart rates allow people to get more REM Sleep which allowed them to be wake up afresh. It is also important to note that no other fabric showed similar properties.
Anti-Allergic
Wool is anti-allergic naturally. Well maintained and washed wool never causes allergy problems. It is also important to make a note that wool cured using harsh moth resistant chemicals can cause allergies. It is, therefore, necessary to look for quality when selecting wool. Lanolin oil found in wool fibre can be allergenic to some though this is very rare. Most allergy attacks blamed on wool fibres are due to poor maintenance or getting processed by toxic chemicals.
Fungus Resistance
Wool is a very fungus resistant material. It is a natural absorbent of moisture and doesn’t allow the growth of mould. The science behind wool’s resistance to fungus growth is that moisture particles freely pass through it. It means that water particles are not left stuck inside the wool.
Fungus needs wetness for growth though wool doesn’t allow any of it. Fungus growth on wool fibres usually happens when left submerged in water for long without proper care.
Thermal control
The Thermoregulatory capabilities of woollen clothes are well known. Wool fibres can keep air pockets between the wearer’s body and the clothing. Such air pockets can trap heat inside it that can warm up the body in cold climates. Wool fibres are also coil-shaped and can remove excess heat that is not necessary for the body. Such properties of wool make it good sleepwear. It is one of the reasons why comfy blankets get lined with layers of wool.
Natural and Safe
Wool is obtained from nature and is very safe in its purest form. Quality wool that is free of harsh chemicals is gentle and comfy on the human skin. Synthetic fibres are not so good for the skin. Some fibres can irritate the skin and can cause rashes and allergy attacks. Synthetic wool is also highly flammable and can be a fire hazard without proper safety measures. Good quality wool fibres are resistant to fire. They are used to make firefighter clothing for this reason.
Eco-friendly
Wool is easy to recycle. Woollen clothes that were used by many generations before can be repurposed to brand new clothes. Wool production also doesn’t require any pesticides or artificial fertilisers. High production standards also refrain from using harsh chemicals in wool curing. Wool is, therefore, one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics in existence.
Tied to human history
Wool has a very special place in the history of homo sapiens. People have been using it since antiquity which includes the last ice age. It is one of the reasons why the human race exists on planet earth to this day. The discovery of wool helped humans to survive harsh climates in the past when there were no heating apparatuses like that of today.
Conclusion
Wool is one of the safest fabrics in existence. Intertwined with human history since antiquity, it is also comfy and smooth on the skin. Good quality woollen clothes can spruce up any wardrobes, especially for the winter.
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