The roots of the soft drink industry reveal a hidden truth about what is sold to the masses as refreshment. The origins of Coca-Cola and Pepsi are deeply tied to pharmacy. Not the healing arts, but the word's true, ancient meaning. Pharmacy descends from the Greek pharmakeia, which signifies poisoning, sorcery, or witchcraft. Look at the initial recipes: they were potions crafted from coca leaf (cocaine alkaloids), kola nut (caffeine), and massive amounts of sugar. These were not drinks. They were chemical enchantments, designed for control. A perfect formula for addiction and stimulation, dressed in a sweet disguise. While the obvious drugs were later removed, the fundamental structure remains: high-fructose corn syrup, extreme sugar, caffeine, and corrosive acids. This addictive foundation—the secret formulas, the chemical reliance, the mass-scale consumption—is the definition of pharmakeia in the modern world. It is a subtle form of spiritual decay, an invisible lock on the lower mind, keeping millions trapped in the reactive state. If you believe Coca-Cola and Pepsi are just beverages, you have not yet looked at their true lineage. Understand the root word, and you will understand the purpose.