Historically the concept of a mattress began with a large animal skin or cloth sack filled with organic materials such as straw, leaves, wool — whatever was available. To keep the bed bugs away, mattresses were shaken, beaten and aired out.

To raise them off the floor, sometimes crude wooden frames were built and ropes were used to lift them. When the ropes stretched and sagged, they were tightened — hence the term sleep tight.
In the 1940’s cotton mattresses got a boost from the USDA’s promotion of surplus cotton for purchasing or making your own mattresses. Today, conventional mattresses are generally made from polyurethane foam and insulating pads wrapped around innersprings.They are usually filled with glues, resins and countless chemicals such as chlorines, formaldehydes and toluene diisocyanate, not to mention the pesticides on the cotton crops and the chemicals applied to the sheep’s wool. Finally, they’re wrapped with a polyester fabric. It's often one chemical after another, all the way from the field through processing and packaging. Some researchers are making connections between the plastics in our bedding and sexual impotence, endocrine disruption, skin rashes, respiratory problems and other health issues.
Healthy mattresses are generally made from natural fibers and contain few if any chemicals. Although U.S. federal law requires flame retardant on all mattresses and futons — with the exception of those wrapped in wool, they can be ordered without flame retardant — but believe it or not, a physician’s prescription is required. There are now alternative flame retardants, such as less toxic boric-acid, and naturally fire retardant wool mattresses. Traditional bleaches, dyes and other chemicals should also be avoided, especially for the chemically sensitive person.
Alternative mattresses come in various materials, can be ordered in standard sizes from Crib to King or can be custom made.
Metal innerspring mattresses stuffed with cotton and cotton/wool combinations are one popular alternative. They are available with choices of organic or commercial cotton stuffing and ticking or with hemp ticking.
Cotton mattresses vary from 100% organic to commercial grade cotton or a combination of the two, bleached or unbleached, washed or unwashed stuffing and covered with your choice of cotton and/or hemp ticking. Box springs usually come in poplar, oak or unfinished hardwoods. Some are made without glues which could otherwise adversely affect the more sensitive person.
Wool and wool-blend mattresses are generally innerspring and do not require a doctor’s prescription. Wool is naturally fire-resistant. Lamb's wool contains lanolin, which is a natural dust mite repellant. Box springs are common with wool mattresses. Usually a cotton or hemp ticking is available and sometimes a cotton batting is used. Varying green qualities are available including organic cotton and wool, untreated wool (no moth-proofing) and commercially processed fibers.
Latex mattresses are available in all natural latex or a percentage of synthetic latex combined with the natural latex. They are available with cotton, quilted ticking and stuffed with untreated wool. Natural latex is harvested much like maple syrup from the maple tree, with a tap in a rubber tree to drain this natural substance from the tree. Some people are allergic to natural latex, but for most people, natural latex is a healthy alternative. Its healthy advantages include: natural latex is intrinsically dust mite repellant, hypo-allergenic, and anti-bacterial. It can provide motionless comfort for undisturbed sleep. It retains its firmness level and independent support even when two people of different body weights sleep on the mattress. It improved circulation due to the inherent suppleness of latex. It sooths and relaxes muscles, while still providing proper support for the body.
System mattresses integrate the mattress with the frame in separate layers of natural rubber latex and wool, covered with untreated cotton ticking. Often the frame is from maple and comes with optional legs.
To lengthen the life of your mattress, flipping and turning it several times a year is recommended.
For most people with conventional allergies, reactions are most often to dustmites and scents from the laundry. To help this situation, barrier cloths are an excellent way of controlling dustmites as well as protecting your mattress from soiling. They are also effective in reducing new mattress smell and any offgassing of conventional mattresses.