Intentional actions that influence health

Which intentional actions (Kamma) influence health? A student once asked the Buddha:

“Master Gotama, what is the cause and condition why some human beings are healthy, while others are often sick?”

The blessed Buddha then explained:

“Here, friend, some man or woman is in the habit of injuring living beings with the hand, a stone, with a stick, another instrument or with a knife! Because of intending and performing such action, at the breakup of the body, right after death, such one is reborn in a state of affliction, in a painful destination, in the purgatory, or even in the hells…

“But if such one at the breakup of the body, after death, is not reborn in an awful state, a painful destination, the purgatory, or in the hells, but instead comes back to the human state, then wherever such one is reborn, such one is weak, fragile, unhealthy and sick!

“These are the actions, friend, any man or woman, who avoids injuring any living being with the hand, with a stone, with a stick, other instrument or with a knife, because of intending and undertaking such action, at breakup of the body, right after death, such one reappears in a pleasurable and happy destination, even in the divine dimensions! But if at the breakup of the body, right after death, such one is not reborn in a happy destination, in the heavenly worlds, but instead comes back to a human state, the wherever such one reappears, such one is well and healthy!

“This is the way, friend, leading to health, to be exact: Avoiding all injuring, harming and affliction of any living sentient being, whether with the hand, with any stone, with any stick, or with any knife!...”

Such one escapes hell, because the evil kamma is modified by past good!

Such one misses heaven, because the good kamma is modified by past evil!