Questions and Answers on the Contemplative Practice of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, 38

Question: What should I do if my head feels like it's splitting with pain during meditation? 

Answer: This is a reaction that occurs when the qi channels reach the head, where the qi and blood are somewhat blocked and cannot break through the head. You can breathe slightly deeper while silently recollecting the Buddha (buddhānusmṛti) in your mind, visualizing golden Buddha-light shining upon your head, expelling the qi of illness and obstructions, allowing the qi and blood to flow smoothly. Imagine that your head has entered the golden Buddha-light, and the blackish-gray karmic obstruction qi has all dissipated; then carefully feel the coolness in your head. After the head feels cool, take a few more deep breaths, and once settled, first remain in meditative concentration (samādhi), and only observe the breath after you are very stable. 

Question: During contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) while sitting in meditation, there is a friction sound when the airflow passes the junction of the nasal cavity and throat, and then my throat becomes inflamed and never heals. What should I do? 

Answer: That area is blocked and the qi and blood cannot flow through, so inflammation appears. Use the method of deep breathing combined with recollection of the Buddha (buddhānusmṛti) to regulate and treat it; this can open up the passage between the nasal cavity and the throat. You can also pat and scrape (gua sha) the throat area. Sometimes when your attention is overly concentrated, fire gathers there and does not disperse, causing inflammation from internal heat. In that case, you can shift your contemplative practice to another location, or let it flow back and forth slightly, without concentrating or exerting force too intensely.