New Delhi: Strange as it may sound, but thousands of people from across the country and abroad are travelling all the way to the southern city of Hyderabad to take 'fish prasadam’ - a homemade medicine made using small live murrel fish.

The ‘fish prasadam’ that is believed to cure asthma and other chronic ailments is being organised by the Bathini Goud family since over a century in Hyderabad. Before being swallowed by the patients, the live fish is stuffed with a yellow paste.

And this time around, it is reported that about 47,000 asthma patients took the ‘fish prasadam' given by the Bathini Goud family at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds on Thursday, with more people expecting to receive the 'miraculous treatment' till the end of Mrigasira Karthi, Friday morning.

Although many people, especially the scientists and rationalists, have raised doubts about the authenthecity and healin gproperies of prasadam, the annual has gained support of various volunteers and groups, including the NCC cadets from local city colleges.

“I have seen my brother recover from the disorder after he had taken the medicine and since then I wanted to try. I am sure it will reduce my asthama problem,” Rakesh Kumar, an asthama patient who has come from Hubli in Karnataka, was quoted as saying.

It is said that the secret herbal therapy has been handed down to the Goud family by a Hindu saint in 1845. Since then, the family has been distributing the 'fish prasadam' free of cost to lakhs of people suffering from asthma anually.

The Goud family claims that the small live fish wiggles inside the person's throat, pushing the phlegm and making it easier for the individual to breathe, thereby helping to tackle the respiratory condition.

Following 'fish prasadam' treatment, patients are advised to go on a strict diet for 45 days. They should also not have water until half-an-hour after the medicine is administered.