Home › Understanding the Role of a Natural Medicine Doctor
Education · how it works
Understanding the Role of a Natural Medicine Doctor
Reviewed by the Mediflora clinical team. This information is general in nature and is not medical advice.
Medically reviewed by the Mediflora clinical team
Last reviewed 3 June 2026
A natural medicine clinic dedicated to organic or alternative medicine offers a holistic, evidence-based system of treating a multitude of chronic diseases. These clinics appear to integrate plant-based medicine modalities with overall lifestyle and functional medicine approaches to engender physical, emotional, and mental wellness.
These clinics would then combine plant medicine treatments with an expanded array of lifestyle and functional medicine principles to try to support physical, emotional, and mental well-being. For instance, a patient with ongoing pain might not only be given organic alternative treatments but also led into dietary adjustment, exercise programs, and stress training as a means to optimize their overall health experience.
Natural medicine practitioners are the champions of including natural medicine in mainstream practice, offering holistic care to patients.
It has at its core the Authorised Prescriber (AP) scheme (https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/authorised-prescribers-scheme), a regulatory system managed by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). TGA governs therapeutic goods in Australia, including medicinal cannabis. Under the AP system, unregistered medicinal cannabis medicines can be prescribed by certain doctors to patients who have a specified medical condition without the necessity of case-by-case approvals under the Special Access Scheme (SAS). Streamlining not only accelerates patient treatment but also improves the practitioners’ range of best matching treatments most appropriate for their patients’ own individual health profiles.
To become an Authorised Prescriber, the doctor has to initially provide proof of experience and clinical justification for the prescribing of medicinal cannabis in a given group of patients – https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-03/authorised-prescriber-online-system-guidance.pdf
They have to submit an application to a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) or obtain support from a Specialist College. After that is done, the doctor seeks final approval from the TGA.
They can then prescribe approved alternative medicine products to their entitled patients on each occasion without further TGA approval. This is in order to assure that only trained practitioners can provide access and utilization of new therapies that can greatly affect patients with few choices. All Authorised Prescribers are also needed to report their prescribing activity to the TGA and do this every six months. This enhances transparency, enables ongoing monitoring of safety, and contributes to the constantly evolving evidence base for medicinal cannabis in Australia. It provides a mechanism for accountability to ensure practitioners are working best practice and patient safety is the focus in a constantly evolving area.
With a lead natural medicine doctor, this becomes more effective for the patients, saving time to wait, and allowing the clinic to provide individualized treatment plans that address targeted needs.
A naturopathic medicine doctor would typically offer periodic monitoring and follow-up consultations to assess efficacy, side effects, and dosage adjustment. Naturopathic clinics are also able to employ naturopaths, nutritionists, and mental health professionals as part of an integrated health care system with patient preference for overall health outcomes. For instance, a diet regimen that would complement his/her alternative treatment using anti-inflammatory diets to augment the action of cannabinoid therapy can be designed by a nutritionist for a patient.
This care model captures the increasing need for patient-focused care that is embracing natural healing and plant remedies. With a proper system of regulation, as would be provided by the AP scheme, the patients can receive high-quality cannabinoid therapy under the watchful eye of a skilled natural medicine physician.
Together with the TGA, Authorised Prescribers guarantee that patients are able to obtain safe, legal, and science-informed medicinal cannabis. These clinics suit the patient who has already attempted the conventional route and desires a more natural and individualized approach to treating their condition through the expertise of a natural medicine doctor. The empathetic model of care for these clinics has been shown to lead to increased patient compliance with treatment plans because individuals feel more empowered and informed in regards to making health-related choices.
Alternative medicine clinics will do more than just prescribe. They are typically offering intensive intake consultations, follow-up treatment, and regular monitoring to check efficacy, side effects, and titration of the dose. The clinics might also include naturopaths, mental health practitioners, and nutritionists, all on an integrated model of care to promote the patient’s overall wellness objectives. For instance, a patient can sit down with a nutritionist to coordinate an eating plan that goes well with their cannabinoid treatment, with anti-inflammatory diets that optimize the potency of cannabinoid treatment.
Start Your Healing Journey TodayReady to unlock the healing power of nature? We at Mediflora Organic are dedicated to having your back through each step on your journey to ultimate wellness. Start today and enjoy the benefits of natural medicine —because health is born of balance.
Frequently asked questions
What is a natural medicine doctor?
A natural medicine doctor is an AHPRA-registered medical practitioner who combines conventional medical training with plant-based and integrative therapies. In Australia, natural medicine doctors who prescribe regulated medicines such as medicinal cannabis must hold TGA approval under the Authorised Prescriber (AP) scheme or prescribe via the Special Access Scheme (SAS). They take a holistic approach to patient care – addressing physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing together rather than treating symptoms in isolation.
What is the Authorised Prescriber scheme and how does it work?
The Authorised Prescriber (AP) scheme is a regulatory framework managed by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). It allows approved doctors to prescribe unregistered medicines – including medicinal cannabis -to patients with specified conditions without requiring individual case-by-case approvals. To become an Authorised Prescriber, a doctor must demonstrate clinical experience, submit an application to a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) or obtain support from a Specialist College, and receive final TGA approval. All Authorised Prescribers are required to report their prescribing activity to the TGA every six months.
How is a natural medicine clinic different from a conventional medical clinic?
A natural medicine clinic integrates plant-based medicine with lifestyle and functional medicine principles to support physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Unlike a conventional clinic focused primarily on pharmaceutical treatments, a natural medicine clinic may also include naturopaths, nutritionists, and mental health professionals as part of an integrated care team. Treatment plans are highly personalised — taking into account the patient’s full medical history, lifestyle, and individual health goals rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Related reading
Bring your care to a clinic that listens.
A$1 initial consult once your transfer letter is processed · eligibility criteria apply.
About this page
General health information, not medical advice; it does not replace a consultation with a qualified clinician. Verify independently: healthdirect, AHPRA.