Volumetric Dosing

What is volumetric dosing?

Volumetric dosing is a technique borrowed from laboratory pharmacology that allows for precise measurement of very small doses that would be impossible to weigh accurately with consumer-grade scales. The principle is simple:

1. Dissolve a known quantity of substance in a known volume of liquid
2. Each unit of liquid (e.g., 1 mL) now contains a calculable amount of substance
3. Use a graduated syringe or pipette to measure exact doses

Example calculation:

• 100 µg of LSD dissolved in 100 mL of distilled water
• Each 1 mL = 1 µg of LSD
• A 10 µg microdose = 10 mL of solution

This method is primarily used for LSD microdosing, as psilocybin mushrooms are typically dosed by weight after homogenization.

Why it matters for microdosing

Precise dosing is essential for effective microdosing, and volumetric dosing is the gold standard for liquid or highly potent substances:

• Accuracy — consumer scales cannot reliably measure microgram quantities; volumetric dosing solves this
• Consistency — every dose is the same, eliminating the variability that comes with cutting tabs or eyeballing amounts
• Adjustability — easy to fine-tune doses in small increments (e.g., going from 8 µg to 10 µg)
• Titration — allows systematic dose-finding by making small, controlled adjustments
• Data quality — consistent dosing means your journal data is actually meaningful and comparable across sessions

How it works in practice

For LSD:

1. Choose your solvent — distilled water or high-proof vodka/ethanol (alcohol preserves better)
2. Place the tab in a measured volume of solvent in an amber glass bottle
3. Wait — let it sit for at least 24 hours in a cool, dark place
4. Calculate — if one tab is 100 µg in 100 mL, then 1 mL = 1 µg
5. Measure doses — use an oral syringe (available at any pharmacy) for precise measurement
6. Store properly — amber glass, refrigerated, away from light

For psilocybin (alternative method):

1. Make a tea or tincture from a known weight of dried, homogenized mushroom material
2. Measure total volume of the resulting liquid
3. Calculate concentration and dose accordingly

What to watch out for

• Unknown tab potency — volumetric dosing is only as accurate as your knowledge of the starting material's potency; if the tab isn't actually 100 µg, your calculations will be off
• Degradation — LSD degrades with exposure to light, heat, and chlorinated water; use distilled water or alcohol, and store properly
• Chlorine — tap water contains chlorine which destroys LSD; always use distilled water
• Uneven distribution — shake the solution gently before each dose to ensure even distribution
• Syringe accuracy — use graduated oral syringes, not kitchen measuring tools