A whopping 35 million adults in the U.S. were regular marijuana users, as of 2017.

The cannabis plant yields a substance that can be smoked or folded into edibles. Sure, there are plenty of reasons why people choose to ingest it in these ways — maybe you’ve already experienced them for yourself.

However, there are benefits to other forms of cannabis products, too. One you may have heard of — and want to learn more about — is Rick Simpson Oil.

What is Rick Simpson Oil?

Some people call it Rick Simpson Oil. Others shorten it to RSO.

Either way, the story of how it came to be is the same. A medical marijuana activist named Rick Simpson discovered three strange growths on his skin in 2003. His doctor confirmed that they were cancerous — basal cell carcinoma, to be exact.

True to form, Simpson decided to try the disease with marijuana. But rather than smoking it, he created a cannabis oil that he applied directly to the surface of his skin. He bandaged the area, then waited to see what happened.

Simpson overcame basal cell carcinoma, a fact he attributed to the cannabis oil he created. After that, he began to tout its benefits and suggest it to others as an alternative cancer treatment.

So, we know that Rick Simpson Oil is a powerful cannabis extract that comes in a liquid form. You can take it orally or apply it topically, and many swear by it as a form of medical marijuana.

In most cases, it is made the same way, too.

How is Rick Simpson Oil Made?

To create Rick Simpson Oil, cannabis flowers go into a vat before a solvent is poured over the top. Most RSO makers use grain alcohol, although butane, ethanol and other compounds can do the trick, too.

They then crush up the cannabis into the solvent and let everything meld together. After it sits for a while, they drain the alcohol from the vat. Then, the remaining mixture is heated to evaporate any lingering solvent.

What remains after that is a dark-colored, thick oil that comes with very high potency. In many cases, it will be funneled into syringes so that it can be precisely measured and dosed.

How is Rick Simpson Oil Different Than CBD?

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, gets a lot of attention these days, and for good reason. One in seven American adults uses it, according to a 2019 Gallup poll.

But that’s not all. As with Rick Simpson Oil, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that CBD has therapeutic qualities. People use it for a slew of reasons, which include fighting anxiety and relieving pain.

However, CBD and RSO aren’t the same — and that comes down to one important ingredient. Rick Simpson Oil contains a wealth of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Most other therapeutic cannabis-based compounds, such as CBD, filter out the THC.

THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, the one that gives you the headrush when you roll a joint or digest an edible. So, if you plan to take your cannabis oil orally, this is something to keep in mind.

Should I Use Rick Simpson Oil?

It’s important to note that experts have yet to confirm or deny the merits of this compound, in spite of the many positive Rick Simpson Oil reviews out there.

Anecdotal evidence does show that it can have some noteworthy therapeutic benefits, though.

Simpson himself says that the oil should be made of Cannabis indica, which helps usher the body into a sedative state. This gives you time to rest and heal. And this won’t just help you through a skin cancer diagnosis, according to those who swear by RSO.

Again, more research has to be done to confirm the claims surrounding Rick Simpson Oil. However, users say that it has helped with the following health issues:

Arthritis
Asthma
Depression
High blood pressure
Infections
Inflammation
Insomnia
Multiple sclerosis

And studies have shown that cannabis extracts can, indeed, help with some of these conditions.

For example, let’s look at cancer, the disease that was the impetus for Rick Simpson’s creation of his namesake oil. He did so after reading a study from the 1970s. It showed that THC and cannabinol, another type of cannabinoid, helped slow the growth of lung cancer in mice.

A 2014 story corroborated these findings. THC and CBD extracts seemed to amplify the effects of radiation in mice with brain cancer.

Still, you shouldn’t jump right into cannabis as a treatment plan, even with so much promising information about cannabis and its therapeutic qualities.

Read Also (Why You Should Use Raw Cones)

Is There Anything Else I Should Know About Rick Simpson Oil?

If you plan to use Rick Simpson oil as a cancer treatment, you should discuss the option with your doctor first. Even with promising studies to inform your decision, you should still consult with a medical professional. Cannabis could interfere with other treatments you’re receiving or medications you’re taking.

Plus, because there isn’t solid evidence into RSO’s effectiveness in fighting cancer, it shouldn’t be used as a first and only course of action. That’s the biggest danger associated with it, according to Healthline.

Other than that, cannabis products can cause other known side effects. These include:

Anxiety
Bloodshot eyes
Depression
Digestion issues
Disorientation
Dizziness
Hallucinations
Impaired reflexes or memory
Irritability
Low blood pressure
Paranoia
Sleeping problems

However, most of these side effects wear off when the RSO does.

So, Will You Try Rick Simpson Oil?

This last question’s for you to answer: is Rick Simpson Oil for you? In the end, it’s up to you to choose.

We can help keep you informed about RSO and other cannabis-products, though. Check out the rest of our blog for more. Then, click here to search for the best cannabis-based products available near you.