The term MEDICINE WITH NO THERAPEUTIC EFFECT can be summarized as a PLACEBO, which is a medicine or treatment with no active therapeutic effect. Placebos are commonly used in clinical trials to compare the effects of an active drug against a dummy drug. Placebos are usually made of inert substances such as sugar, distilled water, or saline solution, and are given to patients in order to create a control group for comparison. Placebos are also sometimes used to treat certain conditions, such as pain, anxiety, and depression, although their effectiveness is still debated.