Can Rick Simpson Oil cure all type of cancers?

Hyderabad: A post claiming a miraculous cure for cancer has gone viral on social media.

The viral post claims that Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) can treat skin cancer.

The caption reads, "When she was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago, Christine Righeimer of Wisconsin knew immediately that she was going to use cannabis oil as a treatment. Starting on the oil in January of this year, she received the all clear for her breast cancer a few weeks ago. One of the surprising benefits of using cannabis oil was the improvement in some of her MS symptoms, an ailment she has had for many years that made it difficult for her to walk."

Rick Simpson Oil is an oil made by washing cannabis buds with a solvent, such as pure light naphtha, and then boiling off the solvent leaving behind the oil. It is not a branded product. That means there's no one "Rick Simpson Oil" for sale. On his website, Simpson explains how to make his namesake oil. But he does not sell a version of the oil for profit.

Can cannabis oil cure all types of cancer? Let's find out.

Fact Check

According to Healthline, experts are still a long way from having conclusive evidence about which cannabinoids and strains work best. Some research suggests that THC can actually increase the growth of cancer cells. Large human studies are needed before cannabis becomes a recommended cancer treatment.

Additionally, there have been a few early-stage clinical trials involving human participants with cancer. While these studies have shown that cannabinoids are safe to use in cancer patients, they don't fully demonstrate whether cannabinoids can help to treat or control cancer.

An article in Leaf 411 says RSO has gained a reputation for its powerful healing abilities, but unfortunately, there is no evidence-based research on what types of conditions RSO might help most with. In some cases, it may even do harm if someone delays research-backed treatment options while experimenting with RSO. Some research also suggests that RSO could contribute to more aggressive growth with certain cancers.

According to WebMD, there's no evidence to prove that Rick Simpson Oil can treat cancer. "Unlike many other cannabis oils, Rick Simpson Oil is high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana," it explained.

"Cannabis oils that contain THC may help control nausea and vomiting for people who are going through chemotherapy. There's also evidence that they can treat pain and improve appetite. But research has not shown that RSO or other forms of cannabis oil can treat cancer. Some very early studies on using THC to treat cancer have been encouraging, though," it added.

Moreover, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of cannabis to treat any medical condition, although both isolated THC and CBD pharmaceuticals are licensed and approved. To conduct clinical drug research with botanical cannabis in the United States, researchers must file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA, obtain a Schedule I license from the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and obtain approval from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

There is no evidence backing cancer curing properties of RSO. Hence, the claim is false.