I may have written before about how the achievements of women are downplayed by history.
However, despite singing the song Lily The Pink for decades I never realised that Lily, was one of those unsung women. (I say ‘unsung’ but obviously she has been sung about…)
You may think you have never heard of Lydia Pinkham but if you know that song Lily The Pink, you have. Just to refresh your memory click play below to hear The Scaffold singing the hit song from the late sixties. (One of those chaps is Paul McCartney’s brother, by the way, on your left.)
Lily The Pink, The Scaffold
Do you have family singalongs? We do quite a lot in our family and Lily the Pink was a favourite (although we often confused all the verses but that was an essential part of the tradition). It was such a favourite that it was one of the songs we sung to my Mum as she left this world (see How to Have the Perfect Ending) and yes, maybe we are a bit weird…
So, speaking of weirdness, my brother clearly has too much time on his hands, as he sent me a link to the story of how Lily the Pink came to be. It turns out it started life as a bawdy song ridiculing Lydia Pinkham.
Lydia Pinkham 1819 – 1883
And why was Lydia Pinkham deemed worthy of ridicule? Well, because she was female businesswoman, a contradiction in terms in the 1800s. And to make matters worse, she was an inventor and marketer of famous patent medicine Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound, one of the most successful products ever marketed specifically for women. Her name and picture were on the label of the product, and she became one of the best-known women in America.
Lydia brewed a home remedy made of roots and herbs, and including 18% to 19% alcohol as “solvent and preservative.” Initially she just shared it with friends and family but she needed money, and so began selling more widely, with a lot of success.
Only a woman can understand a woman’s ills.
– Lydia Pinkham
Medicinal Compound
Lydia brewed the medicinal compound in her kitchen until 1878 when it was moved into a new building next door. She personally wrote many of the advertisements for it, focusing on “female complaints” which included a variety of ailments including menstrual cramps, vaginal discharge, and other menstrual irregularities. The label originally and assertively claimed “A Sure Cure for PROLAPSIS UTERI or Falling of the Womb, and all FEMALE WEAKNESSES, including Leucorrhea, Painful Menstruation, Inflammation, and Ulceration of the Womb, Irregularities, Floodings, etc.”
There were so few remedies for ‘women’s things” (not much changes, does it?) that it became hugely successful. The advertisements were directed specifically at women and often took the form of stories (women love stories, good marketing). The ads also urged women to “let doctors alone” and called the compound “A medicine for women. Invented by a woman. Prepared by a woman.”
To my surprise I have discovered that you can still buy it today, although at a somewhat exorbitant price, the one below being sold at £120 for a multi pack. Do let me know if you try it…
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Posted on March 16th, 2021 by Jane
