According to a recent press release by ConsumerLab.com, people who purchase CBD or hemp extract, which is a form of CBD, use it primarily to reduce pain. ConsumerLab surveyed 9,782 people who use dietary supplements and 14.5% responded that they use CBD. Of these, two-thirds said they use it to reduce pain.

According to Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, pain reduction was particularly common among older individuals. About half of the respondents in the group use it as a sleep aid and more than one-third use CBD to reduce anxiety, which was a more common response from younger users than older ones.

Other statistics include:

• About one-fifth say they use it to reduce depression and improve mood.
• 9% reported giving CBD to pets.
• 8.6% included CBD as part of their cancer treatment.
• 2% used it for colds and flu.
• 0.8% used it to lessen Parkinson's symptoms.

"When we asked if they thought CBD worked, 53.3% of users answered yes," says Cooperman. "Furthermore, 11.7% said no, and 35% said that they didn't know. Interestingly, 63.5% of those who gave CBD to their pets believe that it worked."

CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is derived from hemp, a member of the cannabis plant family. Marijuana is also a member of this family. However, marijuana contains more of a compound called THC, which has psychoactive effects and gets you "high." Hemp, on the other hand, has less than 0.3% of THC and more CBD, which doesn't alter a person's state of mind but has been shown to have medical benefits.

Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, author of "The Power of Self-Healing" and president emeritus of Parker University, tells Newsmax he has been using a full spectrum form of CBD oil for a year and found it to be excellent for inflammation, pain relief and over all well-being.

"You want to buy a full spectrum hemp oil so the product has all the benefits of the different cannabinoids that hemp has to offer including a trace amount of THC," he says. "The main benefits I have seen in my personal practice are anti-inflammatory properties, anxiety relief, better sleep, and relief of joint and muscle aches."