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In an annual tradition sparked by hope for a cure, individuals from across India descend upon Hyderabad, ready to swallow live fish that purportedly contain a miraculous treatment for asthma.
On a day selected by astrologers for its auspicious alignment, a large number of asthma and respiratory ailment sufferers travel to this southern city, eager to consume a small live fish. The fish is filled with a secretive herbal remedy, a recipe known only to the members of a particular Hyderabadi family.
An encounter with a mystic in 1845 left Veeranna Goud, a Hyderabad local, in possession of a unique blend of herbs said to alleviate asthma symptoms. Since that time, Goud’s progeny, the Bathini family, have continued the legacy, closely guarding the secret formula and passing it down only to the male heirs.
Kakarna Alkananda, part of the overseeing team distributing the treatment, remarks, “My ancestors have entrusted this recipe to their offspring across five generations, yet despite my involvement, I am not privy to the formula.”
Believers hold that as the fish wiggles down the throat, it dislodges phlegm or other blockages along the way.
Sharing her mother’s positive experience with the treatment, which has spanned over seven years and has led to considerably fewer asthma attacks and better breathing, Aash Mohammed talks about their 20-hour-long journey from New Delhi just to partake in this unique treatment.
Due to legal constraints resulting from a lawsuit victory by a local anti-superstition group, the Bathini family now labels their herbal concoction as “prasadam” or a holy offering, rather than medicine.
Although the remedy faces skepticism from scientific communities and others denying the treatment’s efficacy and decrying lack of sanitary standards, it still receives substantial popular support.
The fishes used for the treatment are purchased from a stall managed by the government’s fisheries department.
While the “prasadam” itself incurs no cost, each participant does pay 40 rupees (approximately 50 cents) for the fish. The individual then presents the fish to an attendant, who infuses it with the herbal paste before guiding the participant to swallow the live creature.
This year’s event has once again seen thousands opting for the “prasadam,” based on reports from the organizing committee.
To ensure the event proceeds smoothly, local authorities construct temporary facilities and are also in charge of maintaining security and hygiene standards.
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FAQs about the Live Fish ‘Miracle Cure’ for Asthma in Hyderabad
- What is the live fish treatment for asthma?
- It is a traditional practice where asthma patients swallow a live fish stuffed with a secret herbal paste, believed to help cure respiratory issues.
- Who administers the live fish asthma treatment?
- The Bathini family, who has been passing down the secret formula for generations, administers the treatment in Hyderabad, India.
- Is there any cost for the asthma treatment?
- The herbal paste treatment itself is free, but there is a nominal cost for the fish (around 50 cents).
- What do people say about the effectiveness of the remedy?
- Many people who undergo the treatment report relief from asthma symptoms, though there is no scientific evidence to substantiate these claims.
- Is the live fish treatment scientifically proven?
- No, the treatment is not scientifically validated and is considered superstitious by some critics.
- When is the treatment administered?
- The treatment is administered annually on a day considered auspicious according to astrological significance.
