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Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) is a popular product in the cannabis industry due to it having a full spectrum of compounds. There are two main types of full spectrum cannabis oil. These are:
Doctors widely prescribe both to treat various illnesses, such as chronic pain, anxiety and insomnia.
Full Extract Cannabis Oil is cannabis oil that uses the whole plant in its formulation. By extracting all of the compounds in the plant, FECO captures all beneficial elements available. This results in a medicine with higher therapeutic potential than those using isolated cannabinoids. The compounds found in FECO include a range of cannabinoids including THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN and more, along with various terpenoids and flavonoids.
FECO is generally darker and thicker than other cannabis extracts. It comes as a thick tar-like substance that can mix into a carrier oil such as olive oil or MCT oil to form a tincture.
Doctors usually prescribe FECO in the form of a tincture. This oil is taken under the tongue via a dropper. Placing the oil under your tongue helps you absorb the oil quicker and more effectively. Consequently, you feel the effects faster and more intensely.
FECO products contain a full spectrum of cannabinoids (the beneficial chemicals within cannabis). The presence of these compounds triggers a synergistic effect. This results in FECO having increased potency when compared to cannabis oil containing isolated CBD or THC. This synergy is known as ‘the entourage effect’ and is thought to provide patients with greater relief.
The entourage effect is a theory that all of the elements in the cannabis plant act synergistically. Therefore, cannabis oil which retains the full spectrum of compounds in the plant has an increased therapeutic value. A major study in the British Journal of Pharmacology conducted by Dr. Ethan Russo showed that the entourage effect provided better outcomes to patients than CBD or THC alone. This is the reason why FECO is such a potent medical CBD product.
Always consult a doctor before taking any prescription medicine, including Full Extract Cannabis Oil. FECO is so potent that patients may only require a fraction of THC or CBD isolate oil.
For some patients, a rice grain-sized dose may be enough to last an entire day. The amount you take may have different effects. For example, the TGA outlines that low levels of CBD (around 15mg) are likely to stimulate you, whilst high levels of CBD (over 150mg) are likely to make you more tired.
The general advice from a doctor is to “start low and go slow.” In other words, you should always take a small amount and build up slowly over the course of a few days or weeks to find the right dosage for you.
FECO may provide a range of benefits to its users. Currently doctors prescribe FECO for:
FECO is made by extracting all the compounds from a cannabis plant into a rich oil. FECO extraction occurs at a low temperature, using food grade alcohol as a solvent. The solvent is purged and then left to evaporate. This creates FECO, a dark resin extract, which contains a rich profile of cannabis compounds.
This form of extraction ensures that the elements with the most benefit are present in the final product. Alternative extraction methods may not preserve the plant compounds as well.
Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) is often confused with Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) as both are full spectrum cannabis extracts.
RSO is produced in a similar way to FECO. It also has a similar look and benefits. However, the difference between the two lies in the solvent used to extract the compounds found in the plant.
RSO uses isopropyl alcohol as a solvent, while FECO uses food grade alcohol as a solvent.
Because FECO uses a food grade alcohol solvent, many consider it safer to consume or apply to the skin.
All cannabis products (including FECO) are only available via prescription from a doctor in Australia. You should therefore speak to your doctor first to see if medical cannabis is appropriate for you. Certain doctors are more likely to prescribe medical cannabis than others.
Click here to see a list of doctors who are cannabis friendly.
Click here to learn more about medical conditions for which CBD may be prescribed as a treatment, such as cancer, depression & insomnia.
For more information regarding the supply and prescription of medical cannabis, click here.
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