Should you hold Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) under your tongue or just swallow it?
While RSO first became known for helping cancer patients, people now use it for everything from pain to sleep. Both methods use the exact same thick oil, but how you take it changes how fast it kicks in and how long it keeps working.
Holding it under your tongue gets it into your system faster, while swallowing it takes longer to start but lasts much longer.
We are constantly asked which method is better. To help you choose, this guide compares both options across onset time, duration, taste, and daily convenience.
Quick Comparison: Sublingual vs Oral RSO
| Category | Sublingual RSO | Oral RSO |
| Onset Time | Often 15-45 minutes | Often 45-120 minutes |
| Duration | Often 2-6 hours | Often 4-8+ hours |
| Ease of Use | Sticky, strong-tasting, harder to hold under the tongue | Easier with food or capsules |
| Taste | Stronger because it sits in the mouth | Easier to mask with food |
| Best For | Faster effects | Longer-lasting effects |
| Main Consideration | Messy dosing, strong taste | Taking more too soon |
What Is Sublingual RSO?
Sublingual use means placing a small, grain-of-rice-sized drop of RSO directly under your tongue and holding it there for 30 to 60 seconds before swallowing.
This method lets the cannabinoids absorb through the tissues in your mouth so they can enter your bloodstream directly [1]. People usually choose this route when they want faster relief without waiting hours for a swallowed dose to start working.
Because RSO is an authentic, unrefined full-spectrum extract, it has a thick, sticky consistency and an earthy, robust hemp flavor.
It takes a little more patience to use this way compared to a liquid tincture, but holding it under your tongue ensures you are getting the plant’s original terpene profile right away.
What Is Oral RSO?
Oral use simply means swallowing the oil so it passes directly into your digestive system.
Because raw RSO has a dense consistency and a rich, earthy profile, most people prefer to mix their dose into a small spoonful of food, put it inside an empty gel capsule, or take it alongside a fatty snack like peanut butter or yogurt.
When you swallow RSO, your liver metabolizes the cannabinoids exactly like a regular cannabis edible [2].
This digestive process means the oil takes longer to start working, but it delivers a deeper, long-lasting body high. This makes it the best choice if you need steady relief to get through the day or want to sleep through the night without waking up.
RSO Sublingual vs Oral: Key Differences
While both methods use the exact same oil, the experience changes drastically depending on whether you hold it in your mouth or swallow it down.
Onset Time
One thing we hear frequently from new customers is that they expect sublingual RSO to work instantly. While holding RSO under your tongue is the fastest way to feel the effects, the oil still takes time to absorb.
By letting the oil sit against the tissues in your mouth, some cannabinoids can absorb before you swallow the remaining oil, allowing effects to begin within 15 to 45 minutes.
Swallowing the oil takes much longer because it has to travel through your digestive system first. Since your liver has to process it, you are usually looking at a 45 to 120-minute wait before it starts working.
Duration
Many customers tell us they prefer oral RSO before bed because the longer-lasting effects better match their evening routine. Instead of waking up and taking another dose, they can often rely on a single serving to carry them through the night.
Because your digestive system breaks the thick extract down slowly, it releases cannabinoids into your body over a much longer period. This means the effects last a long time, usually four to eight hours.
Just be careful not to take a second dose too early. Since the first one stays active for so long, adding more on top can easily make the experience too intense.
Intensity
Swallowing the oil usually hits you harder physically. Because it passes through your liver, the THC converts into a stronger form that creates a deep, sedative body effect.
Sublingual use skips that digestive step. It starts working sooner, but it rarely packs that same knockout power. Your tolerance and how much you ate beforehand also play a huge role in exactly how strong the experience is.
Ease of Use
Swallowing the oil is the easiest route. You put the dose on a piece of food or in a capsule and swallow it down. Holding raw RSO under your tongue is harder work.
Since the oil is naturally thick, it sticks to the inside of your mouth instead of dissolving like a liquid drop. If you do not want to deal with the texture, using capsules is the better move.
Taste and Texture
RSO has a powerful, earthy plant flavor. When you hold it under your tongue, that intense taste coats your mouth and stays there for a while.
If you want to avoid the flavor, swallowing the oil is the easiest solution. Wrapping the dose in a small piece of bread, mixing it with peanut butter, or hiding it inside a capsule lets you take it without tasting the oil at all.
Absorption and Consistency
Sublingual use works well for people who do not feel strong effects from edibles. Since it absorbs through the mouth, it skips the stomach entirely. If you swallow it, taking it with a fatty food like peanut butter helps your body absorb the cannabinoids.[3]
Just remember that digestion changes day to day, so swallowing the oil can sometimes make the effects feel inconsistent depending on what you ate.
Which Should You Choose?
The right method really comes down to your timing and whether you can handle the taste.
Choose Sublingual If…
- You want faster effects.
- You do not mind the taste.
- You can hold sticky oil under your tongue.
- You do not respond well to swallowed edibles.
Choose Oral If…
- You want longer-lasting effects.
- You use RSO at night.
- You prefer capsules or food.
- You want the easiest method.
- You dislike holding RSO in your mouth.
Conclusion: RSO Sublingual vs Oral
Neither method is better than the other. Sublingual use is the right choice for faster relief, while swallowing the oil is better for long-lasting effects and a simpler routine. The best approach just depends on your schedule, your tolerance, and how your body handles edibles.
Explore our authentic RSO collection to find the high-potency oil that fits your needs.
Or, learn more about how different RSO products compare:
RSO Sublingual vs Oral: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to the most common questions about how to take RSO effectively.
What Is the Best Way to Administer RSO?
There is no single best method, only what works for your schedule. If you want the effects to kick in faster, use it under your tongue. If you want relief that lasts through the night, swallowing it is the better choice. Most beginners prefer swallowing it in a capsule just to avoid the strong taste.
How Long Do You Keep RSO Under Your Tongue?
Aim for at least 60 to 90 seconds. Because the oil is thick, it will not dissolve completely like a liquid tincture. Just hold it there as long as you can to let it absorb, then swallow whatever is left.
Why Does RSO Not Get Me High?
This usually happens because of high tolerance or poor absorption. If you use cannabis heavily every day, your body may be used to the dose. If you swallowed it, your digestion might be struggling to process it. Try taking your next dose with a spoonful of peanut butter or yogurt, as the fat helps your body absorb the cannabinoids much better.
Does RSO Hit Harder Than Edibles?
Yes, usually. Many standard edibles are made with THC distillate, which strips away the other plant compounds. RSO retains the full spectrum of the plant, including terpenes and minor cannabinoids, which creates a much heavier, full-body experience known as the entourage effect.
Sources
- Nagaraj, A., Seyfoddin, A. Cannabinoid Oral Mucosal Delivery: Approaches to Formulation, Fabrication, and Permeation Enhancement. AAPS PharmSciTech 27, 132 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-026-03380-z
- Zhu, J., & Peltekian, K. M. (2019). Cannabis and the liver: Things you wanted to know but were afraid to ask. Canadian liver journal, 2(3), 51–57. https://doi.org/10.3138/canlivj.2018-0023
- Zgair, A., Wong, J. C., Lee, J. B., Mistry, J., Sivak, O., Wasan, K. M., Hennig, I. M., Barrett, D. A., Constantinescu, C. S., Fischer, P. M., & Gershkovich, P. (2016). Dietary fats and pharmaceutical lipid excipients increase systemic exposure to orally administered cannabis and cannabis-based medicines. American journal of translational research, 8(8), 3448–3459.
