self-treatment
noun
self-treat·ment
ˌself-ˈtrēt-mənt 
plural self-treatments
: the act or an instance of medicating oneself or treating one's own disease without medical supervision or intervention
Unlike other foot problems, bunions are not amenable to self-treatment.—
Consumer Reports
Consumer ReportsSome attempt risky self-treatments, such as bathing in kerosene or bleach …—Aimee Cunningham
Aimee Cunningham
self-treat
transitive verb
self-treated; self-treating; self-treats
self-treat athlete's foot
Examples of self-treatment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Companies are aggressively marketing home medical kits containing prescription antibiotics and other drugs for self-treatment, bypassing traditional doctor visits.
—
Robert Glatter,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Some psychedelic medications hold great promise, but people should be wary of self-treatment.
—
Leana Wen,
Washington Post,
5 Feb. 2026
The fear of legal consequences discourages users from seeking medical help, pushing them towards risk self-treatment.
—
New Atlas,
4 Oct. 2025
That may mean multiple visits with a practitioner or consistent self-treatment.
—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
30 July 2025
While patients do sometimes give away or sell extra pills, research consistently shows that illegally obtained pills are most commonly used for self-treatment – to control withdrawal and help quit opioids when treatment is unavailable.
—
Lucinda Grande,
The Conversation,
27 May 2025
Many mental health experts have serious concerns about people who are socially isolated—autistic or not—relying on AI companionship apps as a means of self-treatment or escapism.
—
Webb Wright,
Scientific American,
5 June 2024
The increase in chronic diseases and health problems in our society often entails the need for home care or self-treatment at home.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
23 Feb. 2023
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Robert Glatter,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Some psychedelic medications hold great promise, but people should be wary of self-treatment.
—
Leana Wen,
Washington Post,
5 Feb. 2026
The fear of legal consequences discourages users from seeking medical help, pushing them towards risk self-treatment.
—
New Atlas,
4 Oct. 2025
That may mean multiple visits with a practitioner or consistent self-treatment.
—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
30 July 2025
While patients do sometimes give away or sell extra pills, research consistently shows that illegally obtained pills are most commonly used for self-treatment – to control withdrawal and help quit opioids when treatment is unavailable.
—
Lucinda Grande,
The Conversation,
27 May 2025
Many mental health experts have serious concerns about people who are socially isolated—autistic or not—relying on AI companionship apps as a means of self-treatment or escapism.
—
Webb Wright,
Scientific American,
5 June 2024
The increase in chronic diseases and health problems in our society often entails the need for home care or self-treatment at home.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
23 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Self-treatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-treatment. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
self-treatment
noun
self-treat·ment
ˈself-ˈtrēt-mənt
: the act or an instance of medicating oneself or treating one's own disease without medical supervision or intervention
Unlike other foot problems, bunions are not amenable to self-treatment.—Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
self-treat
transitive verb
self-treated; self-treating
self-treat poison ivy
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