How To Use Rick Simpson Oil
Plus the Benefits of Rick Simpson Oil Treatment
This is the cannabis plant as you’ve never experienced it—stems, leaves, and all.
UPDATED: JUNE 2024
Rick Simpson oil, commonly known as “RSO,” has gained popularity in recent years, but it isn’t new to the cannabis scene. It was invented by Rick Simpson himself over 20 years ago.
Simpson isn’t some product dev guy from a Big Cannabis Co. trying to score market share. And he’s not some entrepreneur or marketing guru trying to push his “miracle product” on you. He’s a patient, just as you may be.
In 2003, he found himself in a predicament that might sound familiar to you—he was diagnosed with skin cancer. He was aware of the medicinal properties of cannabis, but he couldn’t find a doctor who would talk to him about it.
So, he took matters into his own hands and created his own cannabis concoction. Now, the benefits of Rick Simpson oil are available to anyone with access to legal weed (especially those with a medical card).
What Is Rick Simpson Oil?
Because the entire plant is used, RSO is known to be quite potent. It’s generally extremely high in THC content, with high levels of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, chlorophyll, and carotenoids as well.
RSO boasts some pretty serious results when up against cancer and other ailments. Simpson used his very first batch to treat his basal cell carcinoma, which completely disappeared after just four days of topical RSO treatment and never came back.
With those results, Simpson set out to make RSO available to the world and posted the recipe for RSO for free on his website. Now, you can leverage the benefits of RSO by picking some up at nearly any dispensary. If you do, be sure to [ask your budtender] how to dose the concentrate. It’s strong, so it’s generally recommended to start with a small amount and increase your dosage gradually.
4 Ways To Use Rick Simpson Oil
Simpson first experienced the benefits of RSO through topical application. Today, there are several ways to dose RSO so you can experience the benefits for yourself.
Topicals
Topical application of RSO is exactly what it sounds like—placing the oil directly onto your skin. Doing so will not get you high. This approach is generally recommended if you’re using the oil to address skin cancer.
According to Simpson’s website, simply apply a small amount of RSO to the affected area and cover it with a bandage. Apply daily with a fresh bandage.
Although Simpson experienced his cancerous spots disappearing within four days, not everyone has had as speedy results. It may take time to notice a change, if any, in your mole or blemish. If the RSO does clear it up, it’s still recommended to apply RSO to the area daily for the following two weeks as an extra precaution.
At this time, there is no solid scientific study behind RSO as a topical treatment for skin cancer. There is also no shortage of folks reporting successful skin cancer remission by using RSO.
Edibles
The benefits of RSO can now be experienced through oral consumption thanks to the legal cannabis market incorporating it into gummies and capsules, among other ingestible goodies.
Again, talk to your budtender about a dosing schedule if you’re going to ingest RSO. It’s a potent product on its own, and like other cannabis edibles, it hits harder when routed through your digestive system.
You can also add the oil directly to a meal and eat it that way if you prefer. There’s no need to “activate” the oil—the THC within it is already active. Simply layer it on food that’s already been cooked and is ready to eat. Be careful with how much you dose!
Suppositories
Some dispensaries offer RSO suppositories for people who don’t want to consume orally. According to Simpson’s website, RSO suppositories have demonstrated effectiveness in fighting prostate cancer.
Using a suppository imparts little psychoactive effects, so it can be a helpful option for those wanting treatment without intoxication. However, keep in mind that suppositories appear to offer less pain relief than oral ingestion.
Make sure you confirm with your budtender how to store your RSO suppositories and how to dose them.
Smoking/Vaping
Smoking and vaping RSO are less common consumption methods for this type of concentrate.
Technically, you can smoke RSO by applying some directly to your flower or the paper of your joint/pre-roll. Remember, this concentrate is generally extremely high in THC, so start with a very small amount and increase if needed. Smoking RSO may deplete some of its cannabinoid content because of the heat of the flame.
Vaping or dabbing RSO is also an option, but it can get a little…sticky. RSO isn’t really the right consistency to vape or dab. Instead of using classic RSO, try looking for a product labeled “dab RSO” or “RSO concentrate.” These products are created through additional steps in the extraction process that make the consistency more suitable for vaping or dabbing.
Try Rick Simpson Oil
Simpson has been preaching the power of RSO for over 20 years, and he’s amassed a library of anecdotal evidence backing the concentrate’s cancer-fighting capabilities. Still, no formal scientific conclusion about its potential benefits has been drawn.
If you’re curious to try RSO but aren’t sure how or where to start, talk with one of our licensed MMJ docs. They can answer any questions you may have about the product and how to dose it. And if you’re in a medical-only state like Arkansas or Oklahoma, they can hook you up with a medical card so you can gain access to it.
New benefits of the cannabis plant are studied every day. One thing that appears to be a constant theme—the whole plant is greater than the sum of its parts.
RSO is the closest representation of the whole plant that you can get.