Some home remedies are legitimate and useful, but many were actually harmful and should be avoided. Many illnesses and deaths were caused by this remedy. Treating Your Stomach Woes With "Greta" or "Azarcon" Older people from Mexican or Mexican American communities may recall treating "empacho" (general term for stomach and intestinal illness) with powders named "Greta" or "Azarcon." These cures were very toxic they were mostly powdered lead. Here are three of the most damaging. Killing Head Lice With Kerosene Can you imagine putting kerosene on your head.

Most of us would never do this, because we know how dangerous it would be. In previous generations, parents would sometimes kill lice in a child's hair by applying kerosene.

If you have an ailment, pain, or illness, you'll probably head to a pharmacy to purchase an expensive over the counter or prescription treatment to help you treat your condition. Not only is kerosene highly flammable, it is also highly toxic. It also absorbs readily through skin. In the recent past, people relied on folk medicine or home remedies to help them when they were ill or injured.

People obviously didn't know about the dangers of lead and the like back then, but as a.