How to Make Rick Simpson Oil

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 11, 2023 References

Rick Simpson oil is a type of medical cannabis oil typically made from the indica cannabis strain. Proponents of the oil believe that ingesting the oil or applying it to the skin can have medicinal benefits, like lowering blood pressure or alleviating certain illnesses. When making Rick Simpson oil, prepare and heat your ingredients in a well-ventilated area far from any open flames, stovetops, or sparks. Following the instructions carefully and taking precautions will help you stay safe as you make the oil.

Things You Should Know

Combine dried cannabis with isopropyl alcohol in a bucket and stir them together. Drain the solvent from the cannabis and then repeat the process.
Set up a rice cooker and add your solvent to it. Check on it to ensure the alcohol evaporates, and siphon the oil when it becomes dark and greasy.
Apply the oil to your skin as a medicinal salve or on bandages to treat wounds. Alternatively, ingest it for its medicinal benefits or eat it with foods (so long as it has been prepared with food-grade alcohol).

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Cannabis Solvent

1
Place 1 lb (16 oz) of dried cannabis and 1 US gal (3.8 l) of isopropyl alcohol in a bucket. Indica cannabis strains make the best and most effective Rick Simpson oils. When you've added all of your cannabis to the bucket, pour in 1 gallon (3.8 l) of isopropyl alcohol.
- Break up any larger chunks of cannabis with your wooden spoon before you add the isopropyl alcohol.
- Make sure your bucket can hold at least 2–3 gallons (7.6–11.4 l).
- If you are going to ingest the oil internally, be sure that you use food-grade alcohol, such as an Everclear or over proof rum, when preparing the oil rather than isopropyl alcohol.
2
Stir the cannabis and isopropyl alcohol thoroughly. Crush the cannabis with your wooden spoon after you've added the isopropyl alcohol. Continue stirring in circular motions for about 3 minutes or until most of the cannabis dissolves.^{[1]
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- At least 80% of the cannabis should dissolve into the mixture.^{[2]
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3
Drain the solvent from the dissolved cannabis using a cheesecloth. Transfer the cannabis to a bowl and let it sit for about a minute. If no cheesecloths are available, coffee strainers can be used as a substitute.^{[3]
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4
Stir the remaining cannabis and 1 US gal (3.8 l) of isopropyl alcohol together. Add 1 gallon (3.8 l) more of isopropyl alcohol to the bucket and stir the mixture until at least 80% of the cannabis has dissolved again. Save and store the drained alcohol in the bucket.
5
Drain the solvent from the cannabis again using the cheesecloth. When your plant material is completely separated, throw it away. Pour your drained alcohol into the bucket with the rest of your solvent.^{[4]
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- Discard the leftover cannabis material after you've extracted the isopropyl alcohol.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Heating the Solvent and Siphoning the Oil

1
Set up a rice cooker in a well-ventilated area. Fumes may emit from the rice cooker as the solvent is dissolved. Because isopropyl alcohol is highly combustible, avoid any and all flames, stovetops, sparks, and cigarettes while you're heating the solvent.^{[5]
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- Isopropyl alcohol is flammable and cannot be cooked near an open flame or spark.
2
Transfer your isopropyl alcohol to the rice cooker. Pour the alcohol into your rice cooker until it is about three-quarters of the way full. Close and turn on your rice cooker to 210–230 °F (99–110 °C).^{[6]
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- Although you can heat your isopropyl alcohol in a crock pot, it is not recommended. If your mixture heats to over 300 °F (149 °C), the cannabis will burn and become unusable.
- Save the rest of your isopropyl alcohol for later. As the alcohol evaporates, you will slowly add more until you have poured in the entire solvent.^{[7]
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3
Check on the solvent periodically and add more alcohol as it evaporates. Wait until the isopropyl alcohol is about halfway evaporated. Continually fill the rice cooker with isopropyl alcohol to three-quarters full. Add a few drops of water (about 10 for every 1 pound (16 oz) added) as the solvent evaporates to keep the oil from overheating.^{[8]
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4
Wait until the oil develops a dark color and greasy consistency. When you have added all of the solvent into the rice cooker and it has evaporated entirely, the oil will be the only liquid left in the rice cooker. It will be the consistency of thick grease and have a dark color when the isopropyl alcohol has dissolved.^{[9]
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5
Siphon the oil out with a plastic catheter tip syringe. Dip the syringe into the oil, then slowly pull on the plunger until the syringe is filled with the oil. Remove the syringe from the rice cooker, then cover the top with its plastic tip to prevent spilling.
- Do not transfer the isopropyl alcohol into another container. You may need multiple syringes to siphon out all of the oil.
- Store Rick Simpson oil in the syringes until you are ready to use it.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Using Rick Simpson Oil

1
Apply 1-2 drops of Rick Simpson oil to the skin via a cream or salve. Mix 1-2 drops of the Rick Simpson oil with a skin cream or medicinal salve and rub it on your skin. Apply the cream once a day.^{[10]
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- Coconut oil mixes well with Rick Simpson oil.
- Taking Rick Simpson oil via a skin cream or salve results in the same theoretical benefits as ingesting it.
2
Drop Rick Simpson oil on bandages to treat wounds. If you're applying the oil to a wound for its potential healing properties, apply a few drops of Rick Simpson oil to a gauze bandage. Keep the bandage tightly wound around the wound and change it every 3-4 days.
3
Ingest 5-9 drop of Rick Simpson oil per day for its medicinal effects. Each drop should be the size of one-half to one grain of rice. Work your way up from a small drop to a larger drop over several days to several weeks, especially if you have never ingested cannabis before. It takes the average person 3-5 weeks to ingest a full dose of Rick Simpson oil.^{[11]
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- Some alternative health advocates believe that a dosage of Rick Simpson oil a day can ease chronic pain, depression and anxiety, or symptoms of long-term illnesses (like cancer or diabetes).^{[12]
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- Put Rick Simpson oil under your tongue before swallowing for quicker absorption.
4
Eat the Rick Simpson oil mixed in with food if you don't like the oil's taste. Put between 1-3 drops into your favorite food spread and add it to your meal. If you dislike the ingesting of the oil but would prefer to take it orally, a dip or jam can mask the taste^{[13]
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- Eating Rick Simpson oil with food provides the same benefits as ingesting it alone.
- You can also put Rick Simpson oil in a capsule and take it by pill if you would prefer.
5
Seek medical help alongside using Rick Simpson oil. Although Rick Simpson oil is said to alleviate some medical symptoms, it is not a cure-all nor is it an alternative to clinical treatment. Talk to your doctor before adding Rick Simpson oil to your treatment plan and continue to receive regular medical treatment once you begin taking it.
- If you have high blood pressure, for example, see a doctor alongside using alternative health treatments.

Warnings

Isopropyl alcohol is flammable and cannot be used around open flames, stovetops, cigarettes, or electrical sparks.

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Consult a licensed clinician before adding Rick Simpson oil to your medical routine.^{[15]
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Although some cannabis advocates claim that Rick Simpson oil can cure cancer and diabetes, it is best used alongside clinical treatments rather than as an alternative.^{[16]
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