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In this article, we will explore cherry oil, a type of Butane Hash Oil (BHO). Cherry oil is a cannabis extract that contains very high concentrations of THC.
Sometimes confused with honey oil whose THC range is 75-80%, cherry oil has a lower THC concentration ranging from 65-70%. Both have been popular for decades. The concentrated THC creates a distinct high that feels far more psychedelic and intense than edibles or pure cannabis. For this reason, cherry oil and concentrates like it should only be consumed by experienced users.
Cherry Oil vs Other Concentrates
What is the difference between cherry oil and other types of dabs or concentrates? Since cherry oil is a type of BHO, it has some advantages over other extracts. First, the method of extraction used is typically closed-loop extraction using butane. Compared with other solvent-free extraction methods, closed-loop extraction preserves terpenes and also allows the concentrate to take on a wide range of viscosities. And closed-loop (versus open-loop) extraction is safe, purging out all traces of butane to yield a deep, dark and delicious cannabis concentrate.
To learn more about the history and production of Butane Hash Oils, check out our article ‘What is Butane Hash Oil?’
Who Should Use Cherry Oil?
Like Rick Simpson Oil, cherry oil is extremely potent and can be ingested as is. Therefore, they are medically effective at treating a wide range of symptoms and disorders associated with a worsened quality of life. Individuals suffering from chronic and debilitating illnesses can use cherry oil to treat anxiety, nausea, seizures, pain, insomnia, and low appetite, to name a few. In general, if a medical ailment is so severe that it requires prescription opioids, THC concentrates like cherry oil can be extremely helpful without the risks of addiction.
How to Use Cherry Oil
Since cherry oil is a cannabis concentrate, it is considered a dab. There is a bit of a learning curve associated with taking on dabs. We’ve made it super simple by breaking down the process in our blog series about dabbing. To start, we review all concentrates in our article ‘What Are Dabs?’ We touch briefly on cherry oil there but also highlight all the other types of concentrates to help you decide which is best for you. And since concentrates are quite different from cured cannabis buds, they need different equipment for consumption. Not all concentrates can be ingested as-is like cherry oil and many will require dab rigs. For everything you need to know about dab rigs, we have you covered in ‘What Are Dab Rigs?’.
Cherry Oil for IBS
Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a complicated and painful syndrome that affects about 10% of the world population. With distressing and delicate symptoms ranging from gas and bloating to severe gastrointestinal pain, IBS can be extremely debilitating. Since cherry oil has high concentrations of THC as well as CBD and terpenes, it can serve as a powerful treatment for these symptoms.
First, the instantly euphoric and painkilling onset of the cherry oil high will dull the intensity of stomach pains. Cannabis in any form has been used to treat nausea and gastrointestinal issues for thousands of years.
Second, if tiny amounts of concentrate aren’t distressing to the IBS sufferer’s gut, cherry oil ingestion an hour or two before bedtime can help correct disrupted sleep cycles. When THC is processed in the liver it produces 11-hydroxy-THC, an extremely powerful sedative. To learn more about using cannabis for sleep, check out our article ‘How To Use Cannabis For Sleep’. And to learn more about IBS and how cannabis can help, we’ve covered ‘Cannabis for IBS’ in greater depth.
Chronic Pain and Concentrates
In our article ‘Cannabis and Fibromyalgia’ we detail some promising scientific findings over the last decade that have brought some relief to suffers. The causes of fibromyalgia, like many other forms of chronic pain, are still unknown. Since cherry oil contains high concentrations of THC and CBD, it has been shown to ease chronic pain. Both of these phytocannabinoids act as agonists on a wide range of systems, including the Endocannabinoid System, which is how they can have such profound medical effects.
Save Money Dabbing Cherry Oil
Cannabis concentrates are fantastic for medical marijuana users looking for fast, strong alleviation for serious illness and pain. But it also has the added benefit of cutting costs. For medical users, cannabis buds and even edibles can lose their efficacy over time if the pain becomes increasingly unmanageable. At the stage when as-is cannabis buds no longer work quickly enough, cherry oil and other concentrates might be the answer.
A small dab goes a very long way. And by starting low and going slow, you set yourself up for a successful switch from cannabis flowers to cherry oil. Alternatively, supplementing a predominantly plant-based pain management protocol with the odd dab when needed can help keep pain-killing costs low.
For recreational users whose tolerance has increased steadily over time, cherry oil can be a worthy addition to your stash. But be cautious if this is the case. Sometimes a week or two of abstaining from any cannabis products can scale your tolerance back. Otherwise, cherry oil is a good way to add an extra kick to your recreational enjoyment of THC.
References
Campbell, J. and Meyer, R. (2006) “Mechanisms of Neuropathic Pain,” Science Direct, Neuron Volume 52, Issue 1, Pages 77-92, [online] Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627306007288 (Accessed 25 June 2021)
Izzo, A. and Sharkey, K. (2010) “Cannabinoids and the Gut: New Developments and Emerging Concepts,” Pharmacology & Therapeutics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, [online] Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20117132/ (Accessed 30 May 2021).
Ueberall, M., Essner, U. and Mueller-Schwefe, G. (2019) “Effectiveness and tolerability of THC:CBD oromucosal spray as add-on measure in patients with severe chronic pain: analysis of 12-week open-label real-world data provided by the German Pain e-Registry,” PMC US National Library of Medicine, [online] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6535492/ (Accessed 25 June 2021)