Fish medicine draws thousands from afar

Hyderabad: A patient from Kerala, suffering from Bronchial asthma, arrived in the city to take the famed fish medicine administered by the Bathini brothers. "Fish medicine consumption is a festive routine on Mrigasira. We come here every year along with family to take medicine. None of my family members has respiratory issues, but we believe it also prevents us from asthma attacks," said Sudha Maira, a teacher.

Bronchial asthma is a medical condition which causes the airway path of the lungs to swell and narrow. Due to this swelling, the air path produces excess mucus making it hard to breathe, which results in coughing, short breath, and wheezing.

The disease is chronic and interferes with daily working, according to medanta.org. Thousands of patients descended on the city, many along with their families, to take the fish medicine. Very long queues were seen at the Exhibition Grounds where the 'prasad' was administered.

Having no idea about the fish medicine, a visitor at the fish medicine distribution event said that, "I do not know if it is a medicine or a prasad, but my mother sent me here to get it for my sister because she believes this fish medicine will prevent us from asthma and its difficult for my whole family to travel from Mumbai. So she sent me here to get the medicine and am happy to be taking it for her." said Harsha Sharma, Mumbai.

"I have come from Maharashtra to get the medicine for my son. He has respiratory issues since birth and suffers mostly in the winter and rainy reasons. As my relative suggested that this medicine will cure asthama, we are here for the medicine. Yesterday we waited in the queue but did not receive the token. Now, waiting to get token. If we get it by evening we will catch train and go home," said Ramesh Kumar, Chandrapur, Maharashtra.

"I heard about this fish medicine and came here as I am facing respiratory problems. Even our relatives who have taken this fish medicine have witnessed good results," said Jagadish from Lucknow.

" For the last 10 years, I have been suffering from asthma. Many medications were taken. Though improvement was observed, immediately sudden attack of asthma became common in my life. A good friend Malathi from Hyderabad suggested to me to come for this annual festival and for the last 5 years am taking this medicine.

The sudden and frequent attack of asthma is cured, but still I have breathing issues. Not to miss the medicine, I came two days prior to the event just to make sure I won't lose this chance because last year the time I was here the event was completely over and tried hard to get medicine but no one helped me," says Sachin Kawdii from Bangalore.