The four quadrants of qi
In Chinese medicine, energy is considered in more than one way: how much qi is available, and how freely it is moving. Fatigue can reflect depletion, stagnation, or a combination of both. This map is a simple way to see which pattern sounds most familiar.
A simple framework
Choose the square that best reflects how you have felt over the past two weeks.
Your read
You may recognize yourself most clearly in one quadrant, or see some overlap between two. This is a simplified framework for understanding the pattern, not a diagnosis.
Xiao Yao San
Xiao Yao San has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries, with records dating back to around 1100 CE. Its name is commonly translated as “Free and Easy Wanderer,” which reflects the formula’s traditional purpose: helping the body return to a more relaxed, free-flowing state.
Chinese medicine practitioners have traditionally used Xiao Yao San for patterns that can include irritability, tension, digestive changes, and menstrual symptoms, especially when stress seems to make them worse. Flow State is based on this classical eight-herb formula and is made as a daily tonic for modern use.
Flow State
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What buyers say
"I found Taora on Facebook. I did not know much about Chinese herbal medicine. After 20 days of this I am hooked. It's been a very challenging year and I've felt like I just want to curl up in a ball lol. I was very fidgety. This has really helped me destress. I feel less tied up in knots. It makes it easier to do my work. Will be repurchasing."
"This helped my PMS SO so much, helped my mood and also made my digestion better, this formula is amazing and there is nothing like it out there in the market. I turned my one-time order into a subscription and it is worth every penny."
"I am so glad I found Anina on IG. Without her I would not have heard of Chinese herbal medicine and this wonderful approach to health and stress. This bottle is nice and convenient to bring in my work bag. I take it every day in the morning and sometimes at night too. Makes me feel so much more at ease. Fast shipping."
"Love the tracker it came with. Definitely feeling less stuck."
Responses vary from person to person. In our 12-day pilot, 88% of participants reported feeling more balanced and less stressed after one week.* We recommend taking Flow State consistently as directed and paying attention to changes over a week rather than expecting an immediate effect.
It’s normal to move back and forth between quadrants. They’re an educational framework, but in real life we can move between a few of them at different times. Flow State is designed to support your qi, helping encourage healthy flow while also supporting the body when you’re feeling more depleted.
No. Flow State is designed to encourage flow, not sedate you. It does not contain melatonin and is intended for daytime use; most people take it in the morning.
Your quadrant:
If your pattern includes signs of stagnation—particularly tension, irritability, stress-related digestive changes, or difficulty settling—Flow State was developed around the traditional formula used for that pattern.
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Taora was founded by Anina Ku, who grew up around her grandmother's Chinese herbal medicine practice. As an adult, she returned to the tradition more seriously and worked with her grandmother and other Chinese medicine practitioners to develop Flow State around Xiao Yao San, with an emphasis on preserving the logic of the classical formula while making it practical for daily use.
