Sheep wool is truly a miracle fibre, and one that appears to have been forgotten by most of us living in the developed world.. This is unfortunate, since it has so many amazing applications for comfort and healing.

One of the most interesting properties of wool is that it is composed of the same protein that makes up the outer protective layer of your skin. This means it operates in close harmony with your body's own protective mechanisms. It has special in-built recovery properties too and a higher level of built-in UV protection than many other fibers. Wool fibers are resilient and springy, making them ideal for clothing. CSIRO (Australia’s national science agency) has more on wool and clothing.

Just as it keeps sheep warm in winter, it can keep us warm and comfortable. But more than that, wool has the amazing ability to moderate our body temperature. That means that our body maintains a relatively even temperature when wearing wool. Our bodies use less energy as a result, leaving us feeling more rested. This is particularly noticeable after a night’s sleep. And if you are going through menopause and suffer hot flashes and could freezes while you sleep, a wool duvet can provide relief.

Wool also has tremendous ‘wicking’ properties. It can absorb and wick away up to 30% of its weight in moisture. Compare this to cotton that starts to feel damp after about 15% of its weight in moisture is absorbed. Since studies show that we lose about a litre of moisture while we sleep, it’s nice to know that wool’s amazing properties can help our bodies to remove this moisture effortlessly.

Wool is also great when it comes to resisting mildew and mold. It repels moisture, and allows it to pass through its fibers leaving very little for molds and mildews to grow on. This makes it wonderful in creating products that resist body odors and provide a healthier living environment for users. Diabetics may find that it provides relief, since there appears to be a connection between molds and diabetes.

Wool is a natural, nurturing, hollow fibre that provides a soft cushioning layer for comfort. The coiled spring-like tubular structure of wool fibre allows it to flex up to 20,000 times before breaking. As a result it provides a gentle flexible support and pressure relief while preventing shearing. It provides the perfect solution for bedridden patients, dramatically reducing the incidents of bed sores. And if its fibres get trapped in an open wound, they simply become part of the scab and harmlessly disappear when the scab falls off. The bottom line is that wool reduces patient healing time and increases comfort and well-being.

Wool is also exceptional for use in pet products – offering comfort to new-born pets and mature pets. Both benefit from wool’s comforting and healing properties.

Wool is durable, fire retardant, resists static, dirt and dust, and is non-allergenic. Wool is also renewable and sustainable. Is it any wonder we call it the ‘miracle fibre’?

For more on sheep wool products, visit http://www.soulcomfortsheepskin.com/