Sheepskins have many natural health benefits - providing support for pressure points and achy limbs, regulating your body temperature to improve circulation plus being kind to skin and bacteria repellant. Recent research shows sheepskins can even help promote more restful sleep.

The start of new year often means having a renewed focus on our health and doing positive things for our wellbeing. But forget detox diets and jogging in January - using sheepskins can give you lots of health benefits too. Read on to find out why:

Sheepskins are supportive to relieve aches and pains

Sheepskins have naturally crimped fibres that form a cushioning support for your body. Scientists believe this is because each wool hair, or fibre, contains a three-dimensional spiralling crimp that acts like a miniature spring.

By absorbing pressure without flattening out and distributing weight evenly over the body, sheepskins take pressure off limbs to help relieve aches and pains.

Sheepskins regulate your body temperature

The natural temperature regulating properties in wool helps to reduce heat when it’s too hot, and increase heat when it’s too cold, so you stay at the right temperature.

In adults, keeping at the right temperature when sitting or lying down on a sheepskin can help promote better blood circulation.

This quality is also very useful for newborn babies - especially those who are premature or have low birth weight - as they cannot yet regulate their own
temperature.

Sheepskins reduce friction and discomfort

The outer layer of protein on a fibre of wool is very smooth, making it easy for sheepskin fibres to move against each other and accommodate movement.

So when on a sitting or lying on a sheepskin, your skin moves across the surface with less resistance to help reduce discomfort.

It’s particularly useful for people with limited mobility - such as the elderly or those convalescing after surgery. When sitting or lying in the same position for long periods of time, sheepskins can make them more comfortable and protect against bedsores.

Sheepskins deter dirt and bacteria

Sheepskin fleece is naturally resistant to the growth of mold, dust mites, and bed bugs.

It’s natural wicking properties, drawing moisture away from the skin, also prevent the conditions that allow bacteria to thrive.

Sheepskins are also breathable, allowing air to continue circulating around you when rest on them - again reducing the hot and clammy environment that bacteria loves.

Best of all, you can regularly wash your sheepskin to keep it clean. Just take care when doing so to keep it in tip-top condition - see our guide on how to wash sheepskin for more details.

Sheepskins are hypo-allergenic and soothe skin

Sheepskin contains a substance called lanolin which is similar to that found in human skin. It is kind to sensitive or inflamed skin so many believe it can help to soothe or desensitise rashes or skin conditions such as eczema.

Unlike faux sheepskins, which are carbon based fibres made from petrochemicals, sheepskins are natural products that have minimal chemical
irritants.

As sheepskin is resistant to flame and static-electricity, there is no need for added fire retardants. Our medical sheepskins are traditionally tanned using natural alum salt so no chemicals are used in the tanning process.

Sheepskins are moisture wicking for skin protection

Fleeces have this fantastic ability to absorb moisture without actually feeling wet. Wool can carry almost one-third of its own weight in water before feeling wet to the touch.

Wet skin can cause maceration and weakening of the skin over time, so this ability to wick moisture is a great benefit for both comfort and skin protection.

Sheepskins help to promote restful sleep

Due to a combination of the reasons above, sleeping on a sheepskin can help you get a better night’s rest.

It helps to regulate the microclimate around our beds, plus increases comfort and support. A double end-to-end sheepskin makes a great bed liner to sleep on.

Findings from ongoing studies at the University of Sydney suggest that using wool bedding products can improve how you sleep, particularly if you suffer from skin conditions like ezcema. See this Telegraph article on how wool bedding can make you sleep better for more details.

So there will no longer be need to count sheep because you can’t nod off!