Lydia Estes Pinkham
Personal Information
Born: 1819
Died: 1883
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
none
Professional Life
Field of Study: Herbal Medicine
Institution/Corporation: none
Degrees & Memberships: Member: Lynn Female Anti-Slavery Society; Freeman's Society
Awards & Achievements
Awards: none
Achievements: "Founder of the Lydia Estes Pinkham Medicine Company; sold medical potions for the treatment of ""women's Issues"" & dispensed information on treatments of women's ailments; "
Invented & marketed an herbal-alcohol "women's tonic" for menstrual & menopausal problems
Originally gave her product away for free but began selling it in 1873 because the real estate crash left her husband in financial trouble & she had to support the family
Originally made her product in her kitchen; opened Mrs. Lydia Pinkham Medicine company in 1876
The Estes family was strongy abolitionist & anti-segregation; was a friend & neighbor of Frederick douglass; her home was a gathering place for abolitionist leaders
Marketed her products directly to women
Was a crusader for women's health issues
Her compound was available as a 40-proof drink during prohibition