Health Watch: Bizarre Home Remedies

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There are millions of home remedies for millions of problems all handed down from generation to generation.

Listerine isn't just for your breath. Doctors say it can also do a number on blisters.

And for bad breath, the live cultures in yogurt can kill the bacteria that causes bad breath.

There's an endless array of home remedies. Have you heard about duct tape or biting on a pencil? What about a shot glass of vodka for smelly feet?

Doctors say vodka works the same as an antiseptic. The vodka will kill odor causing fungus and bacteria.

"It's because of the alcohol in the vodka," said Dr. Albert Levy, a Family Medicine Specialist.

Duct tape, the all-purpose household fix has hundreds of uses.

How about for curing warts? A study from the University of Minnesota says covering warts with duct tape eliminates them better than the traditional treatment of freezing them off.

"A wart is a virus so you don't want the virus to thrive," said Dr. Levy. The duct tape basically suffocates the wart, o over time it will shrink.

And the next time you have a tension headache, grab a pencil. When you're stressed or anxious and clench your teeth the strain on the muscle that connects your jaw to your temples can trigger a headache, or TMG, temporomandibular joint disorder.

Doctors say placing a pencil between your teeth will automatically relax your jaw, preventing the pain.

"The position of the pencil may alleviate TMJ," said Dr. Levy.

Two other popular but unusual home remedies include olive oil for eczema and a teaspoon of sugar for the hiccups.

Watch the video...

RELATED LINKS:

Prevention Magazine Bizarre Home Remedy List

Reported by Stephanie Stahl, CBS 3