placebo
A dummy treatment, such as a pill with nothing active in it. Studies compare a real treatment against one to see how much of the effect comes from the treatment itself.
Where it comes up
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01
Does alcohol help you sleep?
Alcohol can help you fall asleep, but what happens later in the night? How drinking changes sleep, and what to do if you've had a few tonight.
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02
How long does caffeine stay in your system?
How long caffeine stays in your body, why an afternoon coffee keeps some people up, and how it can thin deep sleep even if you fall asleep fine.
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03
Is it okay to take melatonin every night?
Is melatonin safe to take every night? How the body's nighttime signal works, what it helps and which dose and timing make sense, with a word on children.
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04
Do herbal sleep remedies like valerian or chamomile work?
Do valerian, chamomile, lavender or magnesium help you sleep? What trials show for each, how much products vary, and what not to mix them with.