If you’re new to cannabis oils, you may not have heard of Phoenix Tears, but it has achieved an almost mythic status in the cannabis community for a vast range of health benefits. In fact, Rick Simpson, the creator of Phoenix Tears, made this oil specifically to help with his skin cancer. So what are Phoenix Tears, how does it work, and are the medical claims valid?
This fantastic oil goes by many names- from Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) to Phoenix Tears and Full-extract Cannabis Oil (FECO). In this article, you’ll learn everything from who Rick Simpson is, to the many uses of his famous oil, and so much more.
What Are Phoenix Tears (RSO)?
Phoenix Tears is a cannabis oil extract, also known as full-extract cannabis oil (FECO) or Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), in honour of its creator. It’s a potent oil with a thick, goopy consistency.
Full-extract cannabis oil contains all of the compounds found in the cannabis plant instead of other oils that are focused on isolating specific cannabinoids.
Who is Rick Simpson?
Rick Simpson is a Canadian engineer turned cannabis advocate who effectively treated his skin cancer using a potent, homemade cannabis oil.
After he was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer, Simpson sought medical intervention from doctors, but they only prescribed conventional medical treatments and refused to consider using cannabis as a treatment option. He disagreed, having used cannabis previously to deal with other unrelated ailments, so he decided to take matters into his own hands.
After being inspired by a study that showed THC to be highly effective in killing cancer cells in mice, Simpson developed a new kind of cannabis oil rich in cannabinoids and terpenes and tried it on himself, applying the oil directly to the lesions on his skin.
After a few days, the cancerous growths had miraculously disappeared, and Rick Simpson began making the cannabis oil and giving it away to skin cancer patients for free. These cannabis extract oils became so popular that the niche soon bore his name.
Many brands of Phoenix Tears or RSO oil have come to market since, and these are all used to alleviate the symptoms of various chronic conditions.
Meet Rick Simpson. Photo courtesy of Leafly.
Benefits of Phoenix Tears
Phoenix Tears are used as a natural remedy to help with a variety of illnesses and chronic conditions. Many people have turned to Rick Simpson Oil to help treat skin cancer. Others claim it has many more benefits, such as improving lung capacity, regulating blood sugar levels, fighting cancer, alleviating the symptoms of depression, and facilitating weight loss.
The concept of the “Entourage Effect” is part of what makes Phoenix Tears so great. It’s the theory that the cannabinoids and other components in cannabis work together synergistically to provide more benefits than if you took them alone.
Rick Simpson Oil has been used to relieve acute and chronic pain from conditions like arthritis, migraines, and back pain, and it shows strong potential for alleviating the symptoms of insomnia, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
There are many other benefits of Phoenix Tears that draw an audience. Full-extract cannabis oil can be an effective skin nourishment product by helping to soften the skin and keep it smooth by gently removing old cells.
While the potential applications and benefits of Phoenix Tears are huge, it should be noted that none of these claims have been proven through scientific studies or research.
How to Take Rick Simpson Oil
Cannabis oil has many health benefits, but can you smoke Phoenix Tears, or are there better ways to administer it?
As with other cannabis extracts and oils, there are several ways of taking Rick Simpson Oil. Besides the direct application to affected areas, it can be vaped, smoked, and even eaten.
Unlike other cannabis oils, RSO-type oils are edible and suitable for topical application.
Pay attention to the dosage indicated on the packaging or consult a medical professional to ensure you reap the full benefits with every application. Taking it as a supplement also requires detailed guidelines for how best to metabolize it for the full Entourage Effect.
We delve more into the benefits of full-extract cannabis oils below:
#1: Topical Application
Topical RSO application involves applying the cannabis oil to any area of the body in which you need relief from pain, itching, swelling, or malignant growths. The topical method is what Rick Simpson used when dealing with his skin cancer condition, for example.
If you have severe joint pain, back pain, itching, or skin inflammation, the cannabis oil’s relieving effects should become evident within the hour. If not, you will need to consider your dosage and experiment with increasing the amount, as indicated on the package.
You can follow the same process as you would to treat a tumour or skin malignancy with the product. Take some RSO oil, apply it directly to the affected area of your skin, and cover it with a bandage to keep away bacteria and other contaminants.
Topical Phoenix Tears application works as a fantastic source of nourishment for the skin. Its natural derivatives also mean that you can apply the oil like a regular skin lotion to keep your skin supple and soft.
The topical application of Phoenix Tears may address any surface problems on the skin and target muscular and joint pain. Rub it in as you would a lotion and keep the area clean to ensure you experience the full effects.
#2: Vaporization
You can also ingest RSO oil by vaping (using vaping pens). When vaping, you’ll need to place a thin veil of Phoenix Tears into your vaporizer pen and inhale it. The process sounds simple, but obtaining a delicate RSO oil veil is tricky as many extracts are viscous. With practice and the right equipment, it gets easier.
You are welcome to contact us for more information or advice on using the product more effectively for your personal circumstances.
#3: Ingestion
Alternatively, you can take Rick Simpson oil orally in a method known as sublingual administration, which is a fancy way of saying ‘under the tongue’. It’s the most common way to use cannabis tinctures, too.
This method is ideal as the effects typically begin to show after five minutes or less. These effects can last up to an hour, depending on your dosage and metabolism.
If you do not like taking cannabis oil due to its distinctive taste, you can include it in meals. The oil makes delicious baked goods, like cookies and brownies, and won’t lose any of its effects under the heat of cooking.
When you consume cannabis-oil-infused food, you experience the effects after about thirty minutes, but it can take up to an hour or more. The effects can last up to eight hours, depending on your body chemistry and the concentration of the extract.
How to Make Phoenix Tears
If you prefer to make your own oil at home like Rick Simpson, we’ll show you how he did it.
The process of extracting Phoenix Tears from cannabis is not that difficult. Before beginning the extraction process, ensure that you have the cannabis bud, food-grade alcohol, a cheesecloth, and a rice cooker.
Courtesy of Leafly.
Phase 1: Extract the cannabis oil from the plant matter
- Place your cannabis into a large container. It can help if you break up the buds into smaller pieces to increase the surface area on which the alcohol or solvent works.
- Add food-grade alcohol and mix it with the cannabis plant matter, making sure to stir and crush the cannabis buds. Keep stirring for about 3 minutes
- Drain the alcohol into a bowl using the cheesecloth (you can also use a coffee filter)
- Add the plant matter back into the container and repeat steps 2 and 3
- After draining the alcohol the second time, you can discard the plant matter
Phase 2: Cook the solvent
At this point, you should see a yellow-green or golden mixture that contains cannabis extracts and the solvent. The next step is to vaporize the alcohol content. That’s where the rice cooker comes in.
***For this stage of the process, you’ll need a fan to maintain a well-ventilated room free of alcohol fumes.***
- Pour the solvent into the rice cooker and turn it on. Ensure that the temperatures are high so that the alcohol evaporates well.
- Once the alcohol starts to vaporize, direct your fan to blow away the fumes towards an open window.
- Gradually add more solvent mixture into the rice cooker.
- Boil it until every last drop of the alcohol evaporates.
At the end of this process, you should have something yellow and thick left at the bottom of your rice cooker—the full-extract cannabis oil. All you need to do now is collect it with sterilized equipment, bottle it for storage free of contaminants, and start using it for your intended purposes.
It is essential to note that some home-made RSO oils do have issues. For example, it is difficult to tell the CBD and THC concentration levels present in the oil without formal laboratory testing. There are no sophisticated methods to measure this at home. THC and CBD concentrations vary widely, depending on the type of cannabis plant you used in the extraction process.
Pre-made cannabis oils use standardized manufacturing methods to keep CBD and THC at the recommended levels.
It is not obvious to the untrained eye when the solvent component has fully evaporated. Your content may still have some impurities, which is why it is crucial to use food-grade alcohol, especially if you’re planning on eating or using the oil sublingually.
The Case for Phoenix Tears
Full-extract cannabis oils like Phoenix Tears have significant medicinal benefits for the body and mind. Rick Simpson formulated the product to treat his basal cell carcinoma naturally, and many others have endorsed it since.
Phoenix Tears is suitable for topical application, vaporization, and ingestion. The effects last up to eight hours, depending on the method of consumption and the concentration of the oil you choose.
RSO oil has become incredibly popular among cannabis enthusiasts because it is easy to make at home. All you need is the cannabis plant, an extraction solvent (such as food-grade alcohol), and simple kitchen equipment. Home-made oils may have issues, so it’s best to purchase it from the professionals if you’re unsure.
We hope this article has provided insight into Phoenix Tears and its many benefits. If you have questions about Rick Simpson RSO oil, please comment below or contact our cannabis experts.
