1819-1883

American feminist who manufactured a home remedy for female reproductive pain that earned millions of dollars. In 1875 Pinkham began marketing her Vegetable Compound, consisting of unicorn root, pleurisy root, and alcohol. The medicine grew popular with women who were reluctant to consult male physicians about "female problems." Sales of the medicine boomed, even after Pinkham's family reduced the compound's alcohol content to save money. Medical science found no therapeutic value in the ingredients.