What is the mechanism by which the state of our mind impacts our health?  There are four causes for the arising of material states; temperature, nutriment, consciousness and karma / action energy.  It is the subtle materiality (consciousness and karma) which allows life to be expressed through us in all its extraordinary ways.  In meditation, we can refine our karma and what prompts us to act. In doing so, we refine the quality of the way we function.  By developing our physical and mental constitution, we can develop our capacity to take on challenges without being destabilised.