
<p>Originally built in 1830, an old mill building by Skaneateles Creek has served a plethora of purposes, from a whiskey distillery to a sailboat factory. Since 2018, the old mill building has brewed a new product – beer. The Skaneateles Brewery pays homage to the rich history of the mill while offering a space for locals to gather away from the hustle and bustle of downtown.</p>


Traditional Chinese Medicine says illness comes from imbalance, not invasion. Dr. Yang, an acupuncturist who trains in China before moving to New York, says most of her patients come after “Western doctors tell them there’s nothing else to try.” Today she treats Tony, who visits for long-term back and neck pain after years of office work. Photo by Sky Zhuang.

Linda D. Epstein

AJ Chavar

Moxibustion uses burning mugwort to warm specific points and move Qi, or life energy, through the body. Dr. Yang says heat is part of treatment. “Cold is stuck. Warmth moves.” She explains that many of her patients ask first if it will hurt. Photo by Sky Zhuang.

Yin and Yang can explain everything from the movement of the universe to the balance within one person. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yin and Yang describe the interplay between rest and activity, coolness and warmth, inner and outer forces. Dr. Yang says the same idea applies to her patients: “When your mind is too active, your body becomes tired. You must bring them back together.” She places facial needles on patient Katrina Tessier to ease migraines and restore equilibrium. Photo by Sky Zhuang

Yin and Yang can explain everything from the movement of the universe to the balance within one person. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yin and Yang describe the interplay between rest and activity, coolness and warmth, inner and outer forces. Dr. Yang says the same idea applies to her patients: “When your mind is too active, your body becomes tired. You must bring them back together.” She places facial needles on patient Katrina Tessier to ease migraines and restore equilibrium. Photo by Sky Zhuang.

Dr. Yang places needles along the Shenshu and Yaoyangguan points on Warren’s lower back, areas commonly used to ease chronic pain and fatigue. These points support the kidneys and lower spine, believed in Chinese medicine to strengthen energy and reduce stress-related tension. The red heat lamp warms the muscles and promotes blood flow, helping the body release stiffness built up from long hours of sitting. Photo by Sky Zhuang.

Dr. Yang places needles along the Zu San Li and Cheng Shan points on the patient’s leg, which helps relieve fatigue and improve overall energy flow. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, these points belong to the stomach and bladder meridians and are used to support digestion, circulation, and emotional balance. “Sometimes the leg points treat the head,” she says. “Everything is connected through the channels.” Photo by Sky Zhuang.

A small cylinder of burning mugwort rests on the patient’s skin, releasing waves of warmth and smoke. The technique, called moxibustion, is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to dispel cold, stimulate circulation, and ease chronic pain. The gentle heat penetrates deeply into the muscles, helping the body recover its natural rhythm after needling. Photo by Sky Zhuang.

Dr. Yang practices Tui Na, a traditional Chinese manual therapy that focuses on regulation and harmony through touch. By pressing and kneading along muscle and joint lines, she helps loosen stiffness and improve circulation. The technique follows a TCM principle that “where there is free flow, there is no pain.” Photo by Sky Zhuang.

After each session, Dr. Yang spends time talking with her patient, a habit she says helps her understand how treatment affects both the body and daily life. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, trust and communication are considered part of healing, an extension of the treatment itself. Photo by Sky Zhuang.

Herbs and ingredients commonly used in Chinese kitchens: ginger, jujube, goji berry, chrysanthemum, and fennel, also form the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The principle of “food and medicine come from the same source,” teaches that daily nourishment can prevent illness and maintain balance. Dr. Yang often reminds her patients that healing continues beyond the clinic: “What you eat every day is your first prescription.” Photo by Sky Zhuang.

After each treatment, Dr. Yang writes detailed notes about her patient’s symptoms and responses. The practice follows a core principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine called Pattern Differentiation, which emphasizes observing how body, mind, and environment interact rather than treating every case the same. “Each person’s balance changes every time they come,” she says. “I have to see them as new each visit.” Photo by Sky Zhuang.

The Alexia Fall Workshop

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THE PHILOSOPHY OF HEALING

Produced by

Shuyang (Sky) Zhuang

Coached by

Linda D. Epstein

A.J. Chavar