Controls in science are relative to something. If you want to verify mindfulness meditation, you have to compare it against something else, something as similar

Controls in science are relative to something. If you want to verify mindfulness meditation, you have to compare it against something else, something as similar as possible. I used the phrase 'placebo' informally for the process of controlling against something as similar as possible which lacks the specific content you want to verify. I gave an example of acupressure (which has been done). You gave your own example of how to control against benefits being from meditation rather than the mindfulness modality of meditation.