From colon cleansing to controversial ways to calm a teething baby, here are some home remedies you definitely should not try.

Mayonnaise/Vaseline for head lice

The home remedy of putting mayonnaise, Vaseline or even Listerine on the scalp and hair simply doesn't work, according to James Dom Dera, MD, FAAFP, assistant professor of family medicine at Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy. "It's a temporary solution to kill alive lice but the eggs can still hatch." Plus, he says smearing it on the scalp is not the best thing for the skin. "None of those remedies work. Ultimately the best solution is anti-lice medication."

Whiskey for a teething baby

The old wives tale of applying whiskey to a teething baby's emerging tooth should literally be thrown out the window along with the whiskey, according to experts. "Alcohol in any amount isn't good for a baby," indicates Jacob Milbradt, PharmD of Mr. MedSaver.com. Ditch the whiskey in favor of ice, recommends Dr. Michael Finkelstein, holistic physician at SunRaven, a wellness center in Bedford, NY. "The smartest thing to use is ice. It will do the same thing that alcohol does and will do it well temporarily. It's safe."

Butter for a burn

Don't let its cold sensation fool you. Butter is intended for food, not the skin. "Butter may be tempting to use for a burn by having a slight cooling effect but it tends to melt due to body heat and there is a risk of infection because it's not sterile," explains Dr. Neetee Gadgil, family physician with Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Sugar Land, TX. As for a much safer home remedy alternative? Dr. Finkelstein says the aloe plant is a natural remedy. "Squeeze out the gel from an aloe plant. It's great for burns in the home and kitchen." He says although butter may feel good at first because it's cold and oily, it basically suffocates the skin.

Colon cleansing

Looking to cleanse toxins from your body through colon cleansing products? Another major home remedy no-no. "In fact, such procedures can result in dehydration, an electrolyte imbalance and even a perforated rectum," says Milbradt. Instead, the old-fashioned remedy of a healthy diet rich in nutrients, whole fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, broccoli and green, leafy vegetables will do a much better job. Dr. Finkelstein adds, "It's not about buying something on a shelf in a health food store. There's a much more skillful way regarding how to cleanse."

Chlorine bleach for toenail fungus

When people believe using chlorine bleach will eradicate toenail fungus, they're actually doing damage to the skin. Plus, it's not really effective in treating the fungus. Instead, oral prescription-only antifungal medications work best. "The generic version of brand name Lamisil tablets can now be purchased for less than $15 per month at many pharmacies," says Milbradt. "Because this medication is so much more effective and is now so affordable, it makes little sense to try other remedies first."

Ear candling

Inserting a candle-shaped beeswax cone in your ear, lighting a flame close to your ear and then removing the cone after the wick burns is not the safest or most effective way to get rid of ear wax. In addition to the dangers of lighting a flame close to your ear, you may also burn the ear drum, ear canal and lose some hearing in the process. To use your head when it comes to your ear, speak to a physician about over the counter ear drops to remove excess wax.

Peroxide for cuts and scrapes

"When the skin isn't broken, using iodine or rubbing alcohol is great for killing bacteria. But when there's a cut, iodine, hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol can be toxic to normal and healthy skin cells, impeding healing," says Dr. Gadgil. The reason? The chemical reaction and bubbling that occurs when hydrogen peroxide hits the skin isn't only cleaning the wound -- it's killing healthy cells. It splits open red blood cells and releases their oxygen content. The most effective way to get rid of debris and bacteria without damaging healthy tissue is simply H2O.

Colloidal silver

While some people may believe colloidal silver can effectively treat a variety of illnesses ranging from infection to cancer, there may be drastic side effects. "Just think that the colloidal silver is a metal. Whenever any metal or mineral is used in treatment, it can deposit in the different organs such as the brain, kidneys, intestines and nerves," says Dr. Gadgil. In turn, the deposits interfere in organ function ultimately leading to toxicity and death. The take home message is steer clear of colloidal silver.

Yellow mustard to take the sting out of sunburns

In order to take the sting out of sunburns, steer clear of yellow mustard. "Non-prescription products that are intended to be used to treat sunburns are your best bet," says Milbradt. "Not only do these products contain effective drugs, but they also have the proper directions for use that will allow you to utilize them in the best manner possible." Another option? Sunburn prevention of course, "Make sure to apply an appropriate sunscreen whenever you'll be at risk for a sunburn and don't forget to reapply it as often as necessary."