In recent times, CBD has become something of a buzzword. While some unfairly claim it is a fad, others have found it has helped them in specific areas of their life, whether that’s managing a painful condition or dealing with the stress of everyday life.

Modern life can be exhausting, with its fast-paced nature and high demands, so we wanted to look in a little more detail at the specific reasons why people are choosing to use CBD oil.

Relaxation and wellness

Some people choose to incorporate CBD oil as part of their daily wellness and self-care routine, rather than to deal with any one specific issue. Many have discussed the way CBD can help you to feel relaxed and balanced so it’s no surprise that people want to try it for themselves. In a consumer survey of UK residents, 7% of people gave relaxation as a reason for using CBD*.

Stress relief

Stress is a big problem in the UK, especially for high-powered professionals living fast-paced lives in the city. People are taking on huge workloads and trying to balance that with their personal and social lives without dropping any of their spinning plates!

CBD has become known for its stress-reducing properties, in part due to the way it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system to regulate and balance us. One survey found that 18% of those using CBD in the UK gave stress reduction as a reason for doing so*.

Pain relief

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons people decide to choose CBD oil is to help them manage pain. The research around CBD and pain is still in its early stages, but initial evidence suggests that it has anti-inflammatory properties which could help with conditions such as chronic pain and arthritis.

In fact, a survey found that 50% of those using CBD in the UK were doing so for pain-related reasons*. Another survey found that 71% of those using CBD for medicinal reasons, were doing so to treat pain**. Pain can occur at any age and for any number of reasons, from sports-related injury to post-surgery pain. It seems that CBD has helped certain individuals to manage their pain, and this has promoted many others to give this natural product a try.

Managing anxiety and depression

Another reason people are turning to CBD oil is linked to anxiety and other related conditions. According to the NHS, 5% of the UK population suffer from generalised anxiety disorder and, according to the charity Mind, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem such as anxiety or depression in any given week.

Many proponents of CBD oil have spoken about how it has helped those experiencing anxiety symptoms due to its calming and relaxing effects. One 2019 survey found that, of those using CBD for medicinal reasons, 38% used it for treating anxiety and depression**. Another consumer survey found that 16% of UK respondents gave managing anxiety as a reason for using CBD*.

Sleep assistance

It is also common for people to suffer from sleep issues in the UK, and this has an impact on daily life, making you feel low in energy and lacking in concentration. However, initial research into CBD and sleep has been promising and many people are finding it helps them when it comes to falling asleep at night.

A 2019 YouGov survey found that, of those respondents who have used CBD for ‘medicinal’ reasons, 24% used it for treatment of sleep disorders.

There is a range of reasons people are choosing to add CBD oil to their daily routines, from managing stress to pain relief. It’s a natural method that seems to be working, according to the many personal testimonials online, so we’re thrilled that more and more people are discovering it.

This article was written by James Storie-Pugh from mellow store, the UK’s curated CBD marketplace which stocks high-quality wellness brands including AVER.

* Information based on a 2019 consumer survey by CBD-Intel.

**YouGov Survey, 29th-30th August 2019.