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Rick Simpson Oil, or RSO, is a full extract cannabis oil meant to be taken orally or applied topically. RSO is a marijuana extract made utilizing a solvent to extract cannabinoids. The most common solvent used to produce RSO is grain alcohol, but some other solvents like ethanol or butane are sometimes used. Flower (bud) material is placed in a large container and alcohol is added. The entire mixture is stirred and crushed into the alcohol. After a time, the alcohol is drained from the remaining plant material. That mixture is then heated in a container, such as a rice cooker, so that the residual alcohol evaporates. The end product is a high potency oil often dark in color with a thick consistency. RSO can be siphoned into a syringe style applicator for dosing which offers the advantage of a long shelf life as oxidation does not easily occur.
Typically, a single syringe of RSO contains around 600 mg of THC; however, this is dependent upon the source material used. Traditional RSO is made from indica plants that are high in THC; however, any strain can be used to make RSO. The final results will depend upon what strains were used and the moisture content of the plants themselves. The strains used also account for the color and consistency of the oil. Some plants result in a light amber color with a viscous consistency while others have a darker, thicker consistency. In some cases, other portions of the plant, such as fan leaves, are used in the mixture so as to get the maximum amount of cannabinoids from a crop. This will cause the end product to have a more astringent taste and darker color as well.
Rick Simpson is a Canadian man who helped pioneer full extract cannabis oil. In 2003, he was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma. After reading about a study from the National Cancer Institute in which THC was found to kill cancer cells in mice, he decided to attempt treating his cancer with full extract cannabis oil by applying it directly to the affected area and covering it with a bandage. After several days, he removed the bandage and found the affected area had cleared up. It was after this recovery that he began to produce the full extract cannabis oil for those in need and became famous for it. Thus, the full extract oil became known as Rick Simpson Oil, colloquially called RSO.
There is a method that Rick Simpson suggests when using an RSO regimen. The goal is to consume 60 grams of RSO over the course of 90 days. In the first week, three doses should be taken each day, once in the morning, afternoon, and at night. RSO is very potent. The beginning dose should be the size of a half a grain of rice. After the first week, the measured dose should be doubled every four days. It will take approximately three to five weeks before the dosage reaches a full gram of RSO in a day. Continue to take a full gram in a day until the full 60 grams is consumed. The most common side effects when undertaking an RSO regimen is excessive tiredness and/or psychoactivity. Over time, the body will adjust to the higher dose of RSO; this typically takes three to four weeks.
Interested in learning more about using RSO as part of your treatment plan? Schedule a consultation with an expert. If you’re in the Ann Arbor area, contact the team at Arbors Wellness for a free consultation.
