'self-treatment' originates from the combination of 'self' and 'treatment', where 'self' refers to one's own person and 'treatment' refers to the management and care of a patient for the purpose of combating disease or disorder.

'self-treatment' evolved from the concept of individuals taking personal responsibility for their health, a practice that has become more common with the availability of information and over-the-counter medications.

Initially, it meant 'treating oneself without professional help', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.