Doctor Urges Self-Healing to Save Andorra's Healthcare System

Doctor Carme Mombiedro, a physician with 40 years of experience, has released a new book urging people to reconnect with their bodies to prevent illness and ease the strain on Andorra's healthcare system.

Titled *Escolta’t, mira’t i toca’t. Un camí per recuperar l’art de l’autocura*—translated as "Listen to yourself, look at yourself, and touch yourself: A path to rediscover the art of self-healing"—the book encourages readers to heed early bodily signals before they develop into serious conditions. Mombiedro argues that modern lifestyles have disconnected people from their physical selves, leading to overlooked warnings like initial tendon pain or neck stiffness that escalate into chronic issues.

"The body holds all the information," she said in a recent interview, pointing out how unaddressed emotions, stress, and frustrations manifest physically. She links physical and mental health as inseparable, criticising society for treating them separately, which has resulted in widespread chronic diseases—both physical and psychological.

Mombiedro blames rushed routines, addiction to instant dopamine hits from constant activities, and reliance on quick-fix medications for masking symptoms rather than addressing root causes. "We've become lazy or addicted to this dopamine from doing so many things every day," she noted, adding that people prioritise immediate pleasures over long-term health benefits.

She calls for personal responsibility alongside systemic change. Without individuals acting as their own "doctors or physiotherapists" for minor issues, she warns, the healthcare system risks total collapse—while patients suffer the consequences. Doctors, she explains, lack time to provide comprehensive advice amid rising demand, necessitating a shift to more holistic medicine.

Preventable problems like tendinitis or recurring neck pain often stem from poor posture combined with emotional stress, Mombiedro said. Ignoring them leads to broader issues, such as shoulder pain or persistent headaches. Stopping to listen—rather than running on autopilot—is essential, though modern stress and busyness make it difficult.

Education and proactive patients are key, she emphasised, but knowledge alone fails without mind-body coordination. Campaigns on healthy eating, sleep, and exercise have limited impact because people know these basics yet skip the first step of tuning in.

Ultimately, Mombiedro advocates introspection to confront fears and patterns, warning against self-sabotage through denial or comfort zones. "We're a society of addicts unable to prioritise basic health needs," she concluded, stressing that either people take charge or the system—and individuals—will break down.