Fineness and healthfulness of sheep wool

Fineness and healthfulness of sheep wool

True sheep wool is a unique natural material, which has been used since the ancient times and still has no adequate synthetic analogs. It is clipped animal hair. Wool was one of the first materials mastered by the ancient people for making clothes. Archeologists have found evidence of sheep husbandry and wool production dated by the IV century BC. Sheep husbandry and wool spinning were known in Ancient Mesopotamia and Babylon. Ancient Romans were already familiar with breeding and they had bred fine-fleeced merino sheep Tarantino. Gaius Julius Caesar himself supported breeding sheep for obtaining new types of wool for clothes manufacture. Greek poet Ovidius described the technique of manufacturing fabrics from sheep wool in the beginning or our era. Wool fabrics are practical and relatively cheap, they can be easily dyed in different colors. In England sheep husbandry became a separate branch of industry, even now Lord Chancellor of England symbolically sits on the woolsack. Currently, sheep wool is used together with camel, rabbit and goat wool.

The majority of the processed wool is sheep wool. Australia, New Zealand and Argentina are leading countries in production of clipped sheep wool.

According to its chemical constitution, wool is a protein keratin. Each strain of wool consists of several layers. The top layer has thin flakes, the middle layer – keratinized spindle cells, and the third one is porous, filled with air. The fiber has flexuous structure and is rather strong. Due to these characteristics wool items can preserve their unique features and excellent appearance during long use. Among the fibers of true wool there is a great number of air bubbles, which ensures the air flow. This peculiarity helps to avoid the greenhouse effect and creates natural healthful warmth. Wool does not become electric or attract dust; it can stay clean for a long time. Also it neutralizes toxic substances, emitted by human body, and prevents dust mite from propagation.

Natural warmth of wool items has wholesome qualities by backaches, joint and muscle pains. Healthful effect is an advantage of pure sheep wool: it regulates blood pressure, calms nervous system, takes off weariness, normalizes sleep, reinforces immune system and his resistivity to colds and infections. Lanoline (animal wax), contained in sheep wool, speeds up healing of wounds and bone fractures, has antiinflamotory and antiallergic effect. True wool items can absorb up to 33% of humidity and create natural warmth; they allow the body to breath, regulate humidity, and are very pleasant and soft to the feel.