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About Alternaleaf

Is Alternaleaf a real medical clinic?

Alternaleaf is an Australian medical clinic with an exclusive focus on plant medicine. Our clinic connects patients with qualified nurses and Ahpra-registered doctors who are experienced with and able to prescribe plant medicine products for a wide variety of conditions.

Why choose Alternaleaf?

As Australia's most trusted plant medicine clinic, Alternaleaf provides empathetic and comprehensive end-to-end medical care. Our experienced, independent doctors and nurses are all plant medicine specialists who can help you find the right treatment for your individual needs.

Your low-cost consultation happens in the comfort of your own home and (if eligible) your medicine will be delivered to your door in a discreet box. The Alternaleaf patient portal makes it easy to reorder your medicine and you and your doctor can schedule regular check-ins to make sure your treatment plan is providing the relief you're looking for.

Can I access Alternaleaf even if I live remotely?

Yes – Alternaleaf is an entirely online medical clinic and all our appointments are done via telehealth, meaning your consultation with our nurses and doctors happens in the comfort of your own home. And if you're eligible for plant medicine, your medication will be delivered to your door, wherever you are.

How can Alternaleaf help someone like me?

Alternaleaf provides care to more than 100,000 Australians from all walks of life.

Some patients have extensive experience using plant medicine, while many are exploring it for the first time. Some have a passion for holistic wellbeing and others are trying to find relief from the symptoms of old age.

As Australia's leading plant medicine clinic, we connect you with qualified doctors who are highly experienced in plant medicine and treating people with chronic conditions. Our expert doctors and nurses will assess your suitability for plant medicine and our Patient Care Team is there to make sure you are supported, every step of the way.

Complete our complimentary 30 second pre-screening to see if you could benefit.

Consultation bookings

What is Alternaleaf's cancellation policy?

We understand you may not always be able to make the consultation that you booked. If you do need to cancel, please give the clinic as much notice as possible so that we can see other patients.

The consultation fee may still be charged if you cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment.

Can I reschedule my consult?

Yes – you can reschedule up to 24 hours before your appointment.

What should I expect from an Alternaleaf consult?

Once you've completed your 30-second pre-screening form, you'll be invited to book an appointment with an Alternaleaf nurse.

During this 20 minute appointment, you'll be asked questions about your medical history, current symptoms and history with plant medicine.

You'll also have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the treatment. You'll then set up an appointment with an Alternaleaf doctor. Your doctor will review the notes from the nurse consult and if they think you could benefit from plant medicine, they'll recommend a treatment plan and issue a prescription.

For more detail on the process at a plant medicine clinic, check out our dedicated article.

How quickly can I book a consult?

Availability varies based on demand, but typically you can book an appointment with an Alternaleaf nurse within 24-48 hours.

How much does a consult cost?

Our initial consults cost $79. This includes a 20-minute appointment with a nurse and a 10-minute appointment with an Alternaleaf doctor. You won't be charged if your doctor decides that plant medicine isn't right for you.

Follow-up consultations cost $59 and let your doctor assess your treatment and renew any prescriptions that may be required.

Are Alternaleaf consults telehealth or face-to-face?

As a fully online plant medicine clinic, all Alternaleaf consults are done via telehealth, at a time convenient to you.

Eligibility

Can I still access plant medicine if I’ve used it recreationally?

Yes, you can. Your doctor will take into account any previous experience you may have with plant medicine when working out your treatment plan.

How can I access plant medicine?

Plant medicine is a prescription only medication, so it needs to be prescribed by a GP or specialist doctor. The TGA considers plant medicine an "alternative" treatment, which means that in order to be eligible you must have a chronic condition (i.e. one that has lasted for 3+ months) which either hasn't responded to conventional treatment or caused unwanted side effects.

If you satisfy these criteria and your doctor believes you could benefit from plant medicine, then they can make an application to prescribe you plant medicine through the TGA's Special Access Scheme. So far more than 390,000 prescriptions have been issued for over 130 conditions using the SAS.

Do I have to pay for my consult if I’m not eligible?

No – you won't be charged if your doctor decides that plant medicine isn't right for you.

Am I eligible for plant medicine?

To be eligible for plant medicine, you must:

Have a condition that has lasted for 3+ months
Have tried other treatments which didn't fully improve your condition or produced unwanted side effects
Not be pregnant or have a history of psychosis

Plant medicine has been prescribed for more than 130 chronic conditions. Complete our complimentary pre-screening questionnaire to see if you might be suitable.

Patient Platform

How do I get a Circuit account?

Circuit is only available to plant medicine patients. If your Alternaleaf doctor issues a prescription in your appointment, you'll be sent an email inviting you to activate your Circuit account. From Circuit you'll be able to see your prescription and order medication.

What is Circuit?

Circuit is a personalised patient platform for Alternaleaf patients. Using Circuit you can order medication, book follow-up appointments and check the status of your prescriptions.

Legalities & Confidentiality

Is my information confidential?

Like all medical clinics, we treat patient privacy with the utmost seriousness. Your information is kept on secure databases and your data will only ever be shared with pharmacies and suppliers as required by law and in order to provide you with your medication.

Please note that your healthcare provider will have access to your medical history via real-time prescription monitoring. This is a government-mandated system designed to track the prescribing of Schedule 8 substances so that patients aren’t being overprescribed opioids or other drugs of dependence. You can find more information here.

Am I allowed to use plant medicine at work?

Can I drive while being treated with plant medicine?

Driving with any amount of plant medicine in your system is illegal in all states, except for Tasmania. In Tasmania, you are allowed to drive after using plant medicine as long as you're not impaired and have a valid prescription.

Plant medicine can be detected in your system for days or weeks after use, so make sure to talk to your doctor if you're concerned. You can find more information in our dedicated Knowledge Hub article.

Is plant medicine legal?

Plant medicine has been legally available to prescribe in every state in Australia since 2016. You are entitled to use prescribed plant medicine in the same way as any other prescribed medication.

Doctors can prescribe plant medicine for any condition that has lasted for longer than 3 months, as long as the patient has tried other treatments and they either didn't fully resolve the issue or caused unwanted side effects. So far, Australian doctors have issued more than 390,000 prescriptions for over 130 different conditions.

However, there are some circumstances where using plant medicine is prohibited or may lead to issues. For more information, check out our Knowledge Hub articles on driving and plant medicine, plant medicine in the workplace and the rules around travel.

Insurance & Benefits

Does the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme cover plant medicine?

At present, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) only covers plant medicine for two specific uses:

A combined THC and CBD mouth spray to help manage multiple sclerosis.
A CBD oil for managing seizures from the rare childhood epilepsy conditions Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

Note that some private health insurers also offer coverage for non-PBS medications.

What is a plant medicine patient card and how do I get one?

A plant medicine patient card is a physical card that you can keep in your wallet that shows that you are a plant medicine patient.

If your Alternaleaf doctor prescribes you plant medicine, you'll be automatically sent an Alternaleaf plant medicine card to your home address.

Do you offer benefits to concession card holders?

Yes, the Alternaleaf Concession Program is available to all holders of a Commonwealth-issued Health Card, Veterans Card or Seniors Health & Pensioner Concession Card.

As a member of the program, you'll receive 10% off all consultation costs and prescribed medicines, as well as access to a concession product range that costs 44% less than comparable plant medicine products (as of June 2023).

Can I claim my consult through Medicare?

Currently, Alternaleaf consultations cannot be claimed through Medicare.

Does health insurance cover plant medicine?

Most private health insurers cover some or all of the costs of plant medicine prescriptions. However, some of the largest health insurers in Australia still don’t offer coverage for plant medicine, so you need to make sure your insurer offers coverage before making a claim. For more information, check out our dedicated Knowledge Hub article.

My Medication & Prescriptions

What vaporiser should I use?

There are many vaporisers, or vape batteries, available in Australia. The type of vaporiser you need will depend on the type of product you are prescribed.

The Mighty Medic, Mighty+ Medic and Volcano vaporiser are TGA approved and used to vaporise dried flower. Pre-filled vape cartridges require a vape battery suitable for plant medicine use.

During your consult, your doctor will (if required) discuss what vaporiser will best suit your treatment plan.

What forms does plant medicine come in?

In Australia, plant medicine is currently prescribed in two primary forms: as a dried flower and as an oil or concentrate. Dried flower is consumed using a vaporiser, while oils come in a variety of forms, including oral oils, vape cartridges, capsules, creams, lozenges and more.

You can find more information on our Knowledge Hub.

How long does my prescription last?

Prescriptions typically last 6 months and will have a certain number of repeats attached to them. If there are still any repeats left when your prescription expires, you'll be unable to use them.

How do I get a repeat prescription?

If you have used up all the repeats on a prescription and need it to be re-issued, book a follow-up appointment with your doctor using Circuit, Alternaleaf's patient portal.

When and how do I order refill medication?

If your doctor issues a prescription for plant medicine, it will come with a certain number of "repeats" – basically, the number of times you can order your medication. You can order this medication (known as a refill) using Circuit, Alternaleaf's patient portal.

Can I make changes to my prescription?

As with all prescribed medication, the only way to make changes to a prescription is by talking to your doctor. You can book a follow-up appointment to discuss your prescription using Circuit, Alternaleaf's patient portal.

Shipping & Dispensing

Do you ship Australia-wide?

Yes, we ship to anywhere in Australia.

How much does medication shipping cost?

All Alternaleaf patient orders are dispatched via Express Post and come with a flat $15 pharmacy dispensing and shipping fee.

Can I track my order?

Yes, Australia Post will send you a tracking number via email when your medication has been dispensed by the pharmacy.

How long will it take for my medication to arrive?

We send all medication via Express Post to ensure it arrives as quickly as possible. The exact timeframe can vary depending on pharmacy dispensing times, TGA approvals and location.

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