Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection

About the Collection
The Smithsonian Institution began to collect objects related to health and medicine in 1881. It first obtained examples of patent medicines in 1930, acquiring packages of Haarlem Oil (or Dutch Drops), Dr. John Hooper’s Female Pills, and Roche’s Herbal Embrocation. Since then the Smithsonian’s collection of patent medicines has expanded to over 4,000 products, dating from the 19th century to the present day.

About this Object Group
This group of objects features examples from this collection, found in the Division of Medicine and Science at the National Museum of American History. Each entry includes a photo of the object, the product’s name, maker’s name, place of manufacture, and a date range. Ingredients and therapeutic claims are included when indicated on the product packaging.

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Browse the collection by therapeutic category. You can also use the keyword search (at right) which searches all fields of information.

More Information
Learn more about patent medicine history and how this history is revealed in examples from our collection. Questions or comments? Contact us.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81550G35
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1881
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.3006.154
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.154
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.274347.171
catalog number
274347.171
M-12141
accession number
274347
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1963
date made
after 1963
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
Cooper Labs
ID Number
1985.0475.516
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.516
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For relieving hot flashes and certain other symptoms of "change of life" (menopause) and cramps and other distress of monthly periods (menstruation)--not due to organic disease; also an iron tonic; a ut
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For relieving hot flashes and certain other symptoms of "change of life" (menopause) and cramps and other distress of monthly periods (menstruation)--not due to organic disease; also an iron tonic; a uterine sedative
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1963
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
Cooper Labs
ID Number
1985.0475.515
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.515
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For constipation, biliousness and torpidity of the liverCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For constipation, biliousness and torpidity of the liver
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1908-1918
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1342
catalog number
293320.1342
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:Recommended as a vegetable tonic in conditions for which this preparation is adapted. In use for over 50 years.Dose: A tablespoonful every four hours through the day.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
Recommended as a vegetable tonic in conditions for which this preparation is adapted. In use for over 50 years.
Dose: A tablespoonful every four hours through the day. Shake the bottle before using.
Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound was prescribed for “all those Painful Complaints and Weaknesses so common to our best female population . . . and is particularly adapted to the Change of Life.”
date made
ca 1920s
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1616
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1616
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Recommended as a vegetable tonic in conditions for which this preparation is adaptedCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Recommended as a vegetable tonic in conditions for which this preparation is adapted
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1906
date made
ca 1923
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1329
catalog number
293320.1329
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:A purely vegetable alterative tonicCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
A purely vegetable alterative tonic
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1930
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup44]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For relieving hot flashes and certain other symptoms of "Change of Life" (Menopause) and cramps and other distress of Monthly Periods (Menstruation) - not due to organic disease.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For relieving hot flashes and certain other symptoms of "Change of Life" (Menopause) and cramps and other distress of Monthly Periods (Menstruation) - not due to organic disease. Acts as a uterine sedative. Taken as directed, Lydia E. Pinkham Tablets are also an iron tonic, and help build rich red blood and restore energy in simple iron deficiency anemia.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.313462.004
catalog number
313462.004
accession number
313462
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:A sure cure for prolapsis uteris or falling of the womb and all female weaknesses, including leucorrhoea, irregular and painful menstruation, inflammation and ulceration of the womb, flooding, diseases o
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
A sure cure for prolapsis uteris or falling of the womb and all female weaknesses, including leucorrhoea, irregular and painful menstruation, inflammation and ulceration of the womb, flooding, diseases of the kidneys. For all weakness of the generative organs of either sex, it is second to no remedy that has ever been before the public, and for all diseases of the kidneys it is the greatest remedy in the world.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1890
after 1873
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1330
catalog number
293320.1330
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: ConstipationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Constipation
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1925
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
1984.0782.157
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.157
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.0062.09
accession number
2008.0062
catalog number
2008.0062.09
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For relieving hot flashes and certain other symptoms of "Change of Life" (Menopause) and cramps and other distress of Monthly Periods (Menstruation) - not due to organic disease. Acts as a uterine sedative.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For relieving hot flashes and certain other symptoms of "Change of Life" (Menopause) and cramps and other distress of Monthly Periods (Menstruation) - not due to organic disease. Acts as a uterine sedative. Taken as directed these tablets are also an iron tonic and help build rich, red blood and restore energy, help relieve that "Too Tired" feeling, in simple iron deficiency anemia.
date made
after 1949
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.0018.085
catalog number
2008.0018.085
accession number
2008.0018
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For producing bowel movements. Tiny vegetable laxative pills that are easy to swallow.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For producing bowel movements. Tiny vegetable laxative pills that are easy to swallow. Adults: Some persons may need stronger laxatives than others and according to such needs one to three pills should be taken at bedtime, as indicated for occasional constipation. Not for use by children. Caution: not to be used when abdominal pain (stomach ache, cramps, colic) nausea, vomiting (stomach sickness) or other symptoms of appendicitis are present. Frequent or continued use of this preparation may result in dependence on laxatives.
date made
ca 1930
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
1978.0883.198
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.198
Recommended as an alterative tonic in conditions for which this preparation is adapted. Directions are to take one tablespoon three times per day, one half hour before meals. Shake bottle before using.
Description
Recommended as an alterative tonic in conditions for which this preparation is adapted. Directions are to take one tablespoon three times per day, one half hour before meals. Shake bottle before using. Caution: This preparation includes small amounts of ingredients to which some persons are susceptible or allergic, and in rare instances temporary ringing of the ears, a skin rash, or visual disturbances may occur. Under such circumstances discontinue use until the symptoms disappear, then begin again with one-half the usual dosage. If the above symptoms recur, discontinue use.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
maker
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company
ID Number
1979.0798.019
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.019

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