A message from our Clinical Director:
As the medical cannabis industry grows, patients are able to choose from a variety of products and dosage forms. One particularly potent dosage form is an oil called Rick Simpson Oil, or RSO for short. Rick Simpson was diagnosed in 2003 with skin cancer. He decided to make a concentrated THC oil to use as a treatment. He applied the oil topically for several days. When he removed the bandages after this period of time, the skin cancer was gone!
Today, RSO is available as a potent THC, CBD, or mixed ratio of THC:CBD concentrate. The oil is a full plant extract and is typically thick and sticky. RSO can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used topically, orally, sublingually, you can cook with it, and depending on how it is extracted, it can be smoked. I do not, however, recommend smoking it in case you do not know how it was extracted and what solvents were used in the process. If it was extracted with a highly flammable solvent then you definitely do not want to smoke it!
To use RSO topically, apply a small amount to the affected area and cover with a bandage. You can reapply a few times daily, just be sure to change the bandage each time. You can also mix each dose with a little coconut oil to help thin it out so it is easier to apply.
To use RSO orally, you can place your grain of rice-sized dose (or less if you are just starting out – see below for dosing) directly on a cracker or a piece of bread and eat it. RSO is very sticky and tacky, so I suggest not chewing it directly, as it could get stuck in your teeth and leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
To use RSO sublingually, simply place your dose under your tongue or inside your cheek and let it get absorbed. This method allows it to be absorbed right into the bloodstream for fast effects.
Finally, you can cook with RSO just as you would with your canna-butter or canna-oil. Cooking with RSO is very easy as it is already activated and ready to go, no decarboxylating necessary!
To start using RSO, you want to start with ½-1 grain of rice sized drop. Take this dose every 8 hours for 1 week or so. For the next couple of weeks (until about week 5) if you are ready, try increasing the dose until you reach 1gram per day, in divided doses. After about 12 weeks, you should consider backing down the dose until you are only using what is needed for maintenance. This can range from 1-2 grams per month. Do not abruptly stop using RSO, as you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Instead, back down slowly.
The main side effect from RSO is sedation. The body heals bests in a state of rest so this is a good thing. Please do not try RSO and then go driving or operating machinery. Always discuss using RSO or any cannabis product with your healthcare provider first. RSO is a very potent medicine and should be taken responsibly. It can have wonderful benefits when used properly. Its versatility makes it a great tool in your medicine toolbox.
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is available in a variety of forms at Blair Wellness Center: 0.5g & 1g syringes, capsules in a range of doses, and some products already come infused with RSO (i.e. honey sticks). View our menu for current availability.
