RSO (Phoenix Tears) Index
- Benefits of Phoenix Tears (RSO)
- How to Use Phoenix Tears (RSO)
- What is RSO?
- Who is Rick Simpson?
- Benefits of RSO
- Rick Simpson Oil for Cancer Treatment
- RSO for Back Pain
- Is RSO Dangerous?
- Where to Get RSO
- How to Use RSO
- RSO Dosing Regimen
- Cooking with RSO
- Smoking and Dabbing RSO
- Side Effects of RSO
- Rick Simpson Oil / Phoenix Tears Legality
- Phoenix Tears (RSO) Summary
- Background
- Benefits and Use
- Conclusion
RSO (Phoenix Tears) Index
- Benefits of Phoenix Tears (RSO)
- How to Use Phoenix Tears (RSO)
- What is RSO?
- Who is Rick Simpson?
- Benefits of RSO
- Rick Simpson Oil for Cancer Treatment
- RSO for Back Pain
- Is RSO Dangerous?
- Where to Get RSO
- How to Use RSO
- RSO Dosing Regimen
- Cooking with RSO
- Smoking and Dabbing RSO
- Side Effects of RSO
- Rick Simpson Oil / Phoenix Tears Legality
- Phoenix Tears (RSO) Summary
- Background
- Benefits and Use
- Conclusion
- Pain relief – Activates cannabinoid receptors involved in pain regulation
- Anti-inflammatory – THC and other compounds have anti-inflammatory properties
- Improved sleep – THC helps induce sleep and increase sleep duration
- Increased appetite – THC stimulates hunger hormones
- Cancer treatment – Anecdotal success treating cancers, but clinical data still needed
How to Use Phoenix Tears (RSO)
- Sublingually – Place oil under tongue and let absorb
- Edibles – Add to food, drinks, capsules to mask taste
- Topicals – Apply to skin for localized relief without psychoactivity
- Vaping – Use small amount in suitable vaporizer for fast effects
What is RSO?
Simply put, RSO is a cannabis oil made from the whole plant (like Phoenix Tears), not just trichomes. The long extraction process is like making a tincture. RSO is very dark and doesn’t taste great since it uses the entire plant.
- Phoenix Tears are a highly concentrated cannabis extract, also called Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)
- Developed by Canadian Rick Simpson to treat his skin cancer
- Made by extracting cannabinoids like THC and CBD from cannabis into an oil
- Contains very high levels of THC, typically over 90%
RSO was created to treat cancer and other conditions like MS and asthma. Though Rick Simpson no longer makes it himself, it’s still used by patients across North America.
Who is Rick Simpson?
Rick Simpson didn’t intend to become a cannabis icon. He was an engineer in Canada in 1997 when he was exposed to asbestos on the job, causing him to pass out and injure himself. He developed tinnitus and dizziness, with no medication helping. Despite illegality and his doctor’s advice, he used medical marijuana with great success.
In 2003 Simpson was diagnosed with skin cancer. By then, cannabis was legal for medical use in Canada, but he still faced obstacles. A 1975 study showed cannabis inhibited tumor growth in mice, inspiring Simpson to create RSO.
Simpson claims he cured his cancer by applying RSO topically, but this hasn’t been verified. He began giving RSO away to patients for free. In 2009 his property was raided and plants seized, so Simpson moved to Croatia to avoid prosecution.
Benefits of RSO
While lacking clinical research, many anecdotal reports say RSO helps manage symptoms of various conditions. As more states legalize cannabis, more data is becoming available.
A 2013 study showed RSO drastically reduced leukemic cells in a terminal cancer patient without side effects. RSO is said to help with MS, epilepsy, cancer, insomnia, chronic pain, asthma and more.
The high THC content offers potential therapeutic effects like pain relief, appetite stimulation, improved sleep and reduced nausea. But more studies are still needed.
Rick Simpson Oil for Cancer Treatment
- A 2013 study showed RSO significantly decreased leukemia cells in a terminal cancer patient without toxicity.
- RSO may help manage symptoms of conditions like MS, epilepsy, cancer, insomnia, chronic pain, and asthma based on anecdotal patient reports.
- The high THC potency offers potential therapeutic effects including pain relief, appetite stimulation, nausea reduction, and sleep aid.
- More research is still needed to confirm RSO’s benefits and best practices for integrating it into cancer treatment.
- A 2021 study found many cancer patients used cannabis but their doctors lacked guidance on properly incorporating it.
- Rick Simpson created RSO after his own cancer diagnosis, aiming to replicate a 1975 study showing cannabis killed cancer cells in mice.
- Simpson claims he cured his skin cancer with topical RSO, but this is unverified. Many patients use RSO to improve cancer symptoms.
- Cancer patients should consult their doctor before trying RSO to discuss options and safe integration.
While RSO shows promise in managing cancer symptoms based on some studies and anecdotal evidence, more research is still needed. Cancer patients interested in RSO should involve their healthcare team to explore safe options. RSO may offer pain relief, appetite stimulation, and other benefits, but outcomes can vary.
Cancer patients should consult their doctor before trying RSO.
RSO for Back Pain
Most RSO recipes call for high-THC, indica-dominant cannabis. The final product is highly intoxicating, so dosing starts small. THC binds to receptors that reduce sensations of pain.
- One of the most popular uses for RSO is chronic back pain relief. Back pain impacts up to 80% of people at some point.
- RSO recipes typically use high-THC, indica-dominant cannabis strains. This makes the final oil product highly intoxicating.
- Gradual dosage increase is recommended to avoid an uncomfortably strong high from the RSO when treating back pain.
- THC binds to CB1 receptors concentrated in the brain and nerves. This interaction reduces sensations of pain when using RSO.
RSO can be an effective remedy for chronic back pain, which plagues up to 80% of people at some point. The high THC content of most RSO binds with receptors in the brain and nerves, reducing feelings of pain. Slowly increasing dosage helps avoid an overly strong intoxicating effect.
Is RSO Dangerous?
- RSO won’t cause overdose, death or lasting side effects, even with the high THC levels. The risks are similar to any cannabis product – mainly getting too intoxicated if the dose is too large.
- Purchasing lab-tested RSO from a licensed dispensary ensures a clean, quality product without contaminants.
- Making RSO at home can be risky due to using flammable solvents that could be explosive or leave toxic fumes. Homemade RSO may also retain some solvents.
- If ever uncertain about the safety or quality of homemade RSO, it’s best to source it from a licensed dispensary that lab tests their products.
While RSO itself is not inherently dangerous due to the high THC concentration, improper homemade preparation can introduce risks. Purchasing lab-tested RSO from licensed dispensaries such as BIRCH+FOG provides the highest quality and safety. If opting to make it yourself, take extreme care in handling flammable solvents in an open, well-ventilated area. RSO from dispensaries is lab-tested for quality and safety. Homemade versions can be risky due to the solvents used. Licensed dispensaries are the best source of quality RSO.
Where to Get RSO
You can find 5 different types of Rick Simpson oil at BIRCH+FOG, as well as at our authorized retailers fine stores in Vancouver, Toronto, Regina, and Montreal.
How to Use RSO
The two main ways to use RSO are orally and topically. Simpson himself used it topically to purportedly cure skin cancer.
It takes weeks to build up tolerance to RSO without getting overly intoxicated. Benefits may be felt within days, but most notice significant effects after reaching 1 gram per day, which can take 4-5 weeks.
For skin conditions, apply RSO topically. For internal use, ingest it. This requires gradually increasing doses over weeks. Consult a doctor familiar with RSO to discuss proper use.
Dosing often starts with half a grain of rice-sized dose 3 times a day, slowly increasing over 90 days to 1 gram per day. Once the 90-day regimen is done, a maintenance dose of 1-2 grams per month is recommended.
RSO Dosing Regimen
Cooking with RSO
- Yes, you can use Rick Simpson Oil in cooking and baking recipes.
- However, heating cannabis above 300°F burns off cannabinoids, making the RSO less effective.
- For best results, add RSO to food after cooking at lower temperatures to keep its strength.
- Good ways to use RSO without heating include salad dressings, dips, sauces, smoothies, etc.
- RSO’s thick, sticky texture makes it easy to mix into foods like guacamole or hummus.
- When baking edibles with RSO, add it to frostings, toppings or fillings rather than dough or batters.
- Mixing RSO with oils or butter can evenly distribute it in recipes when cooking is required.
- Eating RSO with food provides longer effects compared to inhaling or taking it under the tongue.
In summary, you can definitely use RSO to make infused foods, drinks and baked goods. To keep its strength, avoid exposing it to over 300°F. Instead, add RSO after cooking or in things needing little to no heat. Adding RSO to recipes provides longer lasting effects than other methods.
Smoking and Dabbing RSO
- Since RSO has some plant matter, you can smoke it, but avoid putting it directly in pipes or bongs.
- Mixing small amounts of RSO with cannabis flower works best for smoking. Add just a rice-sized bit to a packed bowl.
- Adding thin lines of RSO horizontally in joints or blunt wraps helps it burn slowly and evenly.
- Distributing RSO this way ensures proper heating to activate cannabinoids when smoked.
- You can technically dab RSO too, but only if it’s from a trusted source with lab purity testing.
- Homemade RSO may have impurities that can be harmful when dabbed at high temps.
- Decarboxylation during RSO production may make its effects less potent when dabbed vs. other concentrates.
- Start with small RSO dabs of lab-tested product to gauge potency before increasing the dose.
In summary, you can smoke RSO when combined right with flower or mixes. Dabbing is an option but only with pure, lab-tested RSO, not homemade stuff. Carefully check the strength of effects, starting small. Smoking or dabbing RSO requires extra care but can be done safely.
Side Effects of RSO
- Slowly increasing the RSO dose over time is the best way to minimize side effects.
- Potential side effects include feeling sedated, dizzy or generally unwell from too strong of a dose.
- Adding CBD-rich cannabis can reduce unwanted psychoactive effects from the high THC potency.
- Most patients largely report positive effects from RSO like less pain and nausea, better sleep, etc.
- Always start low with RSO doses and gradually increase over days and weeks to safely build tolerance.
- Track any side effects to find your optimal dosage based on your unique body.
- Eating RSO with food can help modulate effects compared to taking it under the tongue.
- Stay hydrated and listen to your body’s response to determine your ideal RSO regimen.
In summary, slowly ramping up RSO doses helps reduce side effects. CBD can also counteract unwanted THC effects. While mostly positive for patients, custom dosage and tracking side effects is key for optimizing benefits. Take a cautious, gradual approach to find your best RSO protocol.
Rick Simpson Oil / Phoenix Tears Legality
- Federally illegal in U.S. but legal in states with recreational/medical marijuana
- Legal to possess and use in Canada within limits on THC potency
- Always check local laws before obtaining RSO
Phoenix Tears (RSO) Summary
Summary of points mentioned in the article:
- Highly concentrated cannabis oil developed by Rick Simpson
- Made by extracting THC, CBD, etc. into an oil with very high THC levels
- Anecdotally said to help with pain, inflammation, sleep, appetite, cancer
- Can be used sublingually, in edibles, topicals, vaping, and cooking
Background
- Rick Simpson created it to treat his own skin cancer
- He gave the oil away for free to other patients
- For cancer it may help manage symptoms but more research is needed
- Patients should consult doctors before using it
Benefits and Use
- Provides pain relief due to high THC binding to receptors
- Slow dosage increase prevents side effects
- Dispensary products are tested for safety
- Dosing starts low and increases over 90 days, then maintenance dose
- Tracking symptoms helps optimize individual protocols
Conclusion
- Shows promise based on anecdotal reports
- More research still needed on effectiveness
In summary, RSO is a versatile cannabis oil created by Rick Simpson that many have found therapeutic for managing symptoms of conditions like chronic pain, MS, cancer and more. Proper dosing helps avoid side effects. While anecdotal evidence is positive, more research is still needed.