Re: OT: Alpaca blankets and blood pressure

[Guest guest]

>

> It's fall and it's going to get colder. I was looking around for wool blankets

and stumbled onto Alpaca. Many people suggested that it's more hypoallergenic

compared to wool (on average), and it keeps us warmer.

>

> However, I've read a few times that wool helps regulate blood pressure. Though

I don't remember what the explanation was.

Hi Suman,

I have not heard that wool can help regulate *blood pressure*, but it can help

regulate *body temperature*. Is it possible that you might have confused the

terms?

Natural animal fibers insulate better because they " breathe " -- trap warm air

but allow perspiration to escape -- whereas synthetic ones do not. (If you think

about why a sheep has its wool or a goose its feathers, it starts to make

sense.) I find that synthetic fabrics leave me cold or make me sweaty; very

rarely am I comfortable.

Personally, I have a real goose down comforter (not " down alternative " , which is

synthetic) for cold weather. I bought it 20 years ago, after being in France,

where everyone has one on the bed! I also knit and have felt the difference in

insulating ability of different animal fibers, and alpaca generally is more

insulating than sheep's wool. I think an alpaca or wool blanket would be

luxurious, and I'd love to have one, but wool specifically be must be *merino

wool* (from Merino sheep -- its fiber is long and smooth) to ensure that the

blanket is not itchy and scratchy!

If you have additional questions, feel free to send me a message off-list.

Best,

Pam, who keeps warm in winter with merino wool long underwear and alpaca socks!