What Is Rick Simpson Oil?

So, what is RSO? In basic terms, it’s a powerful cannabis oil produced using an ethanol extraction technique and cannabis Indica strains. It got its name from the man who first created it – a Canadian engineer and a medical marijuana activist called Rick Simpson. 

Rick Simpson rose to fame after claiming to have cured skin cancer and kill the cancer cells using his own custom cannabis oil blend. Sometimes known as Phoenix Tears CBD oil or RSO, this type of cannabis oil is linked to a number of medical benefits and has gotten popular in the medical cannabis community since Simpson invented it.

Can You Dab RSO?

Since RSO is an oil, it's possible to smoke or dab it. However, the safety depends on the solvent used during its production. If a highly flammable solvent was employed, it's crucial to avoid smoking or dabbing RSO. Always consult your budtender to understand the product's creation process and whether it's safe for dabbing or smoking.

Made from medicinal cannabis, RSO has been shown to have many benefits.

Famed for its powerful medicinal benefits, the hemp oil, which is now known as Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), has become a well-known phenomenon. Dabbing RSO is a common way for people who use the tincture to utilize its pleasurable effects. This potent and unrefined cannabis oil is credited with curing cancer – a pretty impressive feat. Are you ready to find out more about RSO oil? Wondering whether it could help you with your medical conditions? Read on and learn all you need to know.

The Story of a man's cancer treatment 

So, why did Rick Simpson create RSO?

Basal Cell Carcinoma is a form of skin cancer that was cured using RSO.

Back in 2003, Rick Simpson was given a diagnosis of a form of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma. The symptoms include cancer spots on the skin. Not long after, he saw a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute which interested him. It revealed that THC had been proven to kill cancer cells in mice.

Simpson already used medicinal cannabis to treat dizziness and tinnitus. So, he decided that it was worth giving it a try to treat skin cancer with medical marijuana as a substitute for radiation treatment.

He made his own homemade extract, directly applied it onto the affected skin, and bandaged it up. After four days, the growths had disappeared.

The Growing Popularity Of RSO

Rick Simpson RSO started to cultivate and grow cannabis himself which he used to perfect his custom blended oil.

Unfortunately, the government and health groups continued to ignore his amazing discovery. Undeterred, Simpson began promoting the medical benefits of cannabis oils himself. He made a documentary which he published on YouTube and penned a book called “The Rick Simpson Story”. He even gave his amazing oil away to those who needed it free of charge. Sadly, he was prevented from doing this for legal reasons in 2009.

How To Make RSO

Simpson has faced a lot of skepticism and controversy as well as anger from doctors and medical experts. His lack of clinical trials and scientific research, including human studies, has angered many physicians. Nevertheless, Simpson has many defenders, as for example cancer patients, who also claim to have treated their cancer while using his oil blend as a treatment regimen. Dabbing RSO in this case makes for a simple addition to typical treatment.

Today, Simpson says he can no longer make or supply dabbing RSO because it’s still illegal in many places. He also disassociates himself with online vendors claiming to be RSO suppliers.

Simpson has stated that patients can only be guaranteed to have genuine dabbing RSO if they make it themselves. You can find instructions on the Phoenix Tears website.

It’s important to note that making RSO is potentially dangerous. You need to work in a well-ventilated area clear of sparks which could cause the fumes to catch fire. Ethanol Extraction is the best method to produce dabbing RSO.

The process to make dabbing RSO is fairly simple.

• Crush the Indica cannabis plant material
• Place the cannabis compounds in a bucket
• Wash it using ethanol, 99% isopropyl alcohol, or naphtha. (This will dissolve its active compounds)
• Strain the solution into a different container
• Wash it again and mix it
• Strain the solution on last time
• Transfer it back to the first container
• Discard all the plant material
• Filter the solution to remove remaining plant matter
• Boil the solution to remove the solvent
• Pour the solution into a pan made from stainless steel
• Put the solution in a dehydrator (this will remove any remaining solvent and moisture content)
• Cool the solution
• Put it into capsules or a syringe

Simplify the dehydrating process with the Cosori Dehydrator Machine. It's easy and safe to use, and will save you a ton of time! And who knows what other tasty things you'll find yourself dehydrating to snack on later!

Thank you to the peeps at Cosori for the stock image! All rights reserved.

So, you are all done with the RSO oil production process and now it's the last step...  how to consume it?!  If you belong to those people who don't really enjoy dropping the tincture into the mouth themselves, give it a try with these DIY fillable capsules!  Oh, and for the sake of animal love and care, the capsules are absolutely gelatin free and are suitable for all the vegans out there!

Thank you, pro photogs for this stock image!

While the RSO extraction process is relatively easy, it may still be too complex for some people. It’s no wonder, then, that many people are wondering where to buy RSO.

Can You Dab RSO?

Since RSO is an oil, it's possible to smoke or dab it. However, the safety depends on the solvent used during its production. If a highly flammable solvent was employed, it's crucial to avoid smoking or dabbing RSO. Always consult your budtender to understand the product's creation process and whether it's safe for dabbing or smoking.

Can you smoke RSO oil is a common question asked by potential users.

There are dosage instructions on the Phoenix Tears website. However, different people need different dosages depending on how strong their RSO is and their medical condition.

Usually, you don’t smoke RSO. There are three common ways to use RSO:

• It can be rubbed onto the skin as a topical
• It can be taken sublingually (as drops placed under your tongue)
• It can be taken orally as a capsule

RSO can be used topically to great effect.

Which Is The Most Effective Method?

All three ways of using RSO are effective. The sublingual method has the most rapid absorption rate, so the effects would be experienced more quickly. The oral capsule takes longer to take effect but the effects last longer. The best method for you depends on your unique needs.

Is There A Difference Between CBD Oil And RSO?

Many people are confused about the differences between CBD oil and RSO.

CBD oil only contains CBD. This is often derived from industrial hemp.

Meanwhile, dabbing RSO contains THC in high concentrations – often 20% minimum. It also contains the entire cannabinoid range found in cannabis plants. RSO is made from Indica dominant strains and not industrial hemp.

In 2011, Ethan Russo, a researcher, and physician found CBD’s medicinal benefits increased when they were used with other cannabinoids. Dabbing RSO contains both, THC and CBD. It has around 2-6% CBD but also has a high THC content to help treat cancer. You can see more about the differences between CBD and RSO in this RSO YouTube video.

Does RSO Get You High?

The simple answer to this question is yes. RSO is very intoxicating since it contains high concentrations of THC. CBD oil won’t get you high but dabbing RSO definitely will.

Is RSO A Full Spectrum Cannabis Oil?

Full Extract Cannabis Oil is not the same as Rick Simpson Oil.

FSCO (full spectrum cannabis oil) is sometimes called FECO oil (full extract cannabis oil). This term is used to refer to cannabis oil products containing the entire bioactive compound range found in cannabis plants.

These compounds include:

• Phenols
• Flavonoids
• Fatty Acids
• Cannabinoids in their natural acid form
• Terpenes

The process of dabbing RSO extraction can extract all the compounds however heat is necessary to remove the solvent.

The heat will change the cannabinoids into an activated neutral form from their natural acid form. This process is called decarboxylation. It also violates the extracted terpenes. This means the oil may lack some of the original bioactive compounds from the plant’s trichome glands.

RSO vs BHO

Butane Honey Oil (BHO) is different from RSO.

One question often asked is whether BHO (butane honey oil) is the same as Rick Simpson Oil. The short answer is no.

The extraction method used to make BHO is a cold one. This means almost no decarboxylation occurs. This makes it different from dabbing RSO which can go through the decarboxylation process. It is this process that is believed to result in cancer-killing properties. Therefore, BHO would need heat in order to have the same effect as RSO and kill cancer cells.

What Does Rick Simpson Oil Taste Like?

RSO when taken orally has a vegetal taste.

When taking RSO orally, you can expect a vegetal taste with floral notes. Some users find it slightly bitter because of the cannabis extracts but this effect can be reduced by consuming it with other foods.

Besides the RSO oil, we are totally in love with the Orange Birch CBD Tincture from Serenetree. It's absolutely delicious with hints of citrus and wood undertones! Oh, and it's also vegan and made from natural flavourings, yum yum!

Thank you @serenetree insta feed for the beautiful earthy pic. All rights reserved.

What Can RSO Be Used For?

Rick Simpson Oil reviews have reported that many users have experienced relief when using RSO for several conditions including:

• Cancer
• MS
• Arthritis
• Infections
• Asthma
• Inflammation
• Insomnia
• Hypertension
• Depression

Are There Any Rick Simpson Oil Side Effects?

Apart from causing a high, there are a few other known side effects and health risks of using RSO. These include psychological symptoms such as:

• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Depression
• Hallucinations
• Irritability
• Disorientation

There may also be some physical side effects like:

• Low blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Bloodshot eyes
• Sleeping problems
• Slow digestion
• Poor memory
• Slower reaction times
• Unsteadiness

These symptoms are usually short-lived and disappear in around a month as your body learns to tolerate the oil.

Pop up your cannabis extract treatment with the CBD Jelly beans from Dr. Norms! Yeah, you heard it right. Soft and juicy jelly beans filled with different flavours and healthy CBD, made in partnership with the original(!) Jelly Bellys.  Our mouth is anyways already watering...

Thanks to the folks at Serenetree for the delicious stock picture!

How Much Is Rick Simpson Oil?

There are several websites that claim to sell RSO. However, if you buy from them you can’t be sure that you’re getting the real deal. It may also not have been made safely using organic plant materials or high-quality solvents. The extract may not have been properly filtered or the THC: CBD ratio may be wrong. The CBD and THC levels may even be non-existable. The cannabis strains used there can be wrong. There aren’t any standards to adhere to, so you could be buying anything. Making your own is therefore best.

Conclusion

There are many promising testimonials to show positive results when using RSO to treat medical conditions instead of getting radiation therapy. Although none of this research has yet been scientifically proven, lots of users have found relief when using it. It’s important, however, that if you’re planning to use dabbing RSO, you make sure it’s been safely produced. A properly made RSO could have positive health benefits but a poorly produced RSO may have more side effects, no THC and CBD as ingredients and do more harm than good.

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Written by Megan Medeiros (BA)

Megan Medeiros has a bachelor’s degree in English and is currently working on a master’s in English at James Madison University. She's the owner and operator of Medeiros Writing, and has been working as a cannabis writer for the past three years, mostly following the legal climate of marijuana, especially in areas like California, Colorado, Oregon, Canada, and other legal areas.

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