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Natural Awakenings Naples and Fort Myers

This Versatile Acupuncturist Combines Japanese and Chinese Styles

Sep 30, 2015 07:47AM ● By Linda Sechrist

Charles Caccamesi with client

From childhood, Charles Caccamesi, acupuncture physician and owner of Acupuncture Care of Naples, displayed an interest in not only martial arts, but also the philosophy that enlivens them. “From the time that I was 9 years old, I was literally devouring the content of every book on Taoism that I could get my hands on. By the time I was 13, I was riding the train to Chinatown to spend hours perusing what was on the shelves of the herb shops where the Chinese herbalists, who were generally acupuncturists, also had basements filled with books on Traditional Chinese Medicine, karate, kung fu and other interesting subjects. I felt like the proverbial kid in the candy store,” he reminisces.

With such an avid interest in Chinese medicine and Eastern philosophy, it would have been a natural next step for Caccamesi to study acupuncture. However, in retrospect, he admits to zigging when he should have zagging. “I took a detour and succumbed to following a family tradition of the men in my family, who were engineers. It was their expectation for me. When I finally admitted to myself at age 35 that I wasn’t happy or fulfilled being an engineer, I quit and returned to college to get a degree in biology, and simultaneously enrolled in the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) in the Boston area. Acceptance and graduation at NESA hinges on having a bachelor of science in biology. I completed seven years of study in four-and-one-half years. It was mayhem because there were times when I was taking 12 classes in one semester,” says Caccamesi, who has been teaching a continuing education class in tai chi at Barron Collier High School for 15 years.

Autoimmune disease captured Caccamesi’s attention while studying with Kiiko Matsumoto, founder of Kiiko Style Acupuncture. “I felt really honored to learn from Kiiko, who is internationally recognized for her method of abdominal palpation, which means applying a light pressure with the fingers to the surface of the body for the purpose of determining the condition of the organs and systems beneath. Palpation allows me to decide on particular treatment,” explains Caccamesi, who moved to Naples after graduating from NESA.

“My long-term goal was to set up a practice and live where I wanted to retire. Florida was my first choice for two important reasons. It is one of the few states that licenses acupuncture physicians as primary care physicians. Living here also gave me the opportunity to practice what I had learned from Kiiko regarding geriatrics and apply it to caring for my aging parents. My expertise was a blessing when it came to helping my parents’ bodies reduce inflammation, so common to the aging process. It also helped with reducing pain and boosting their immune system to fight off infection and promote connective tissue healing, particularly after a hip operation,” notes Caccamesi.

Caccamesi, who has been practicing for 25 years, uses a hybrid style that combines the Japanese and Chinese styles of acupuncture with massage. He states, “Some of my clients have been with me for my entire career and know to use my services not just when they are sick or in pain, but also for wellness and prevention, while my newer clients are frequently astounded at the quick relief and healing response they experience.”

Acupuncture Care of Naples is located at 501 Goodlette Rd., Ste. D100, in Naples. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 239-877-2531 or visit NaplesFLAcupuncture.net.