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"Sardines may not be your favorite fish, but if you were an asthma sufferer in India, you might take a bite. The Associated Press reports that more than 70,000 people recently rushed to a stadium in Hyderabad, India, to swallow whole, live sardines rubbed with a special herbal paste. The remedy is believed to have been developed over 170 years ago by a Hindu saint. The crowd consumption is administered by the Goud family, who have been providing the free fish once a year on the &amp;quot;Mrigishira Karthi,&amp;quot; a date chosen by astrologers that marks the beginning of the monsoon season.   More From Delish: They Eat What?! 10 Strange Foods from Around the Globe According to CNN, a small ball of the herbal paste is stuffed into the mouth of a five- to seven-centimeter (2- to 3-inch) live fish.The method was developed in 1845 when the Goud&amp;#039;s grandfather encountered a Hindu saint who passed along the secret formula. What is it about a sardine that makes the Gouds believe it can help cure asthma? The thought is that the fish, tail and all, will wiggle through your system, beginning by breaking through the phlegm. More From Delish: What to Eat for Inner and Outer Beauty Though the family refuses to reveal what&amp;#039;s in the elixir, in 2004 they provided a sample to be analyzed by authorities. Without finding anything harmful, in January 2006 the Indian court decided not to prevent or interfere with the annual ritual, although some government officials disagreed with the ruling. The slippery sardine treatment doesn&amp;#039;t end with the ritual swallowing. Extra doses are sometimes administered every 15 days and for the next 45 days the followers are instructed to eat from a list of only 25 foods. Would you eat a live sardine to prevent asthma? What other food and liquid treatments have you heard of for illnesses? Find more great food content on Delish:  Search for the perfect recipe from our homepage Find out the latest food news Get a recipe book to save your favorite dishes Sign up for our free newsletters Check us out on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.delish.com/food/news/a39061/goud-family-ritual-gathers-thousands-who-eat-live-sardines/>