It’s not purely anecdotal. Studies were done. And too many cases of people being helped to just brush aside.
There is no legitimate medical study that confirms it. And the anecdotal evidence is easily brushed aside. It works every time on people with dry bites.
You cannot post a single peer reviewed study from any medical journal that says it is effective. And if someone is envenomated, it will only be a detriment.
I know that story went around hard in the 80s. But it is 100% wrong. Just like they used to be able to “prove” pellagra was caused by a germ. And they were sure peptic ulcers were caused by stress. Both were exactly the opposite.
“Common sense” and true science do not often mix well.