'autotherapeutic' originates from Greek and Modern Latin elements: the prefix 'auto-' from Greek 'autos' meaning 'self', and 'therapeutic' from Greek 'therapeuein'/'therapeia' via Latin, meaning 'to serve, attend, heal'.

'autotherapeutic' formed in English by combining Greek-derived 'auto-' (from 'autos') with 'therapeutic' (from Greek 'therapeuein' through Late/Modern Latin 'therapeuticus'); the compound is a modern English/technical formation (20th century onwards).

The root 'therapeuein' initially meant 'to serve or attend'; over time it specialized to mean 'to treat medically' or 'to heal'. 'Autotherapeutic' has come to mean 'producing therapeutic effects by oneself' (self-treatment or self-healing).