The centella is an electric spark in the clouds that shines for an instant and is a natural phenomenon that usually occurs from electrical storms, it has the form of very luminous and bright spheres whose trajectory is erratic or sometimes they remain suspended in the air, unlike of the brief discharge of the common lightning, it is insistent, firm and constant and can move slowly or quickly, it can make hissing sounds, abnormal or does not make any noise.
What is centella
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The word "centella" derives from the Latin "scintilla", which means "spark" or "anything that shines faintly for an instant. The spark or globular ray is a very bright ball of light that originates in electrical storms and whose duration is greater than that of the brief ray. They are generally more dangerous than lightning because they can enter through the cylindrical iron bar to close doors and windows; Furthermore, if lightning strikes any establishment, house or apartment, it can travel through cables or other places where there are electrical charges.
Previously it was thought that it was a fictional or mythical phenomenon, since they are events that are unlikely and unpredictable. However, it has been proven to be real, although many details are unknown and there are no large records to support a scientific theory about lightning. Despite this, many people claim to have witnessed such an impressive phenomenon.
The term, despite being something little known really, has permeated popular culture, coming to be used for different areas, such as in movies and anime series, as is the case of the fictional Japanese character Captain Centella. In the same way, there are squares and shopping centers that carry the word centella in their name, an example of this is the Plaza Centella in Mexico.
Another important fact to note is that rays and sparks are usually confused with each other; but there are differences in them that will be explained later.
Lightning characteristics
As mentioned in the previous section, on many occasions, the sparks are confused with the rays, since there is popularly the belief that they are the same as the latter, however there is something that distinguishes them and that is the intensity. However, their characteristics are:
- It originates from storms, so it is an electrical phenomenon.
- Its duration is significantly longer than that of ordinary lightning.
- Its shape can be spherical, balloon, teardrop or crook, whose size can vary from a small pea to several centimeters, about 40 approximately.
- Its intense shine is believed to be due to a chemical combination.
- They are potentially more dangerous than lightning, as their destructive powers are superior.
- It is very rare, so there is not much photographic evidence of them.
- According to the record of the Russian explorer Vladimir Arséniev, who assured that in 1908 he observed a globular ray, these move slowly adapting to the topography of the place where they appear.
It is important to briefly mention what lightning, thunder and lightning are, as their concepts tend to get confused when talking about a sparkling sky.
1. The rays: they are static electric discharges that are observed between the clouds like a long luminous thread that measures between 1,500 meters and 5 kilometers of extension by 1 centimeter of width; traveling at an average speed of 440 kilometers per second and normally do not last much more than one second. These can be cloud to ground, ground to cloud, and cloud to cloud.
2. Lightning: they are the lightning manifestations of the discharges that originate during storms, but fail to reach the ground. These depend on cloud formation, wind, temperature and other factors, so each one is different from the other.
3. Thunder: are the auditory manifestations of the discharges, characterized by their roar, whose sound can reach 110 decibels, close to the pain threshold for the human ear.
The shock wave produced by lightning is greater than the speed of sound; However, it propagates in this way for about ten meters and then it will propagate as a common sound, traveling at about 340 kilometers per second, so, to calculate the distance, it takes one kilometer for every 3 seconds that it takes to sound the same since the lightning is generated. That is why thunder can be predicted from lightning, the sound of which will reach our ears a few seconds after having observed the luminous manifestation.
Asiatic spark
The "Asian hydrocotile" is a herbaceous plant from India. The centella plant is characterized by having thin stems, having stolons or creeping lateral shoots, green to reddish color, kidney-shaped leaves, with small tips or apices and it has pink to red flowers; and the time of its cultivation is three months.
This is a plant widely used in Ayurvedic or Indian medicine, where it is known as "tiger grass", because it is believed that the Bengal tiger heals its wounds by wallowing in the gotu kola, whose juice combines with your own saliva.
Another name by which this plant is known is "gotu kola", and in addition to being used as a medicine, it is also used for the dietary area, for which they are marketed in the form of gotu kola capsules. That is why they can be consumed in tablets or applied through creams and gels that contain the plant.
Properties of gotu kola
This plant, which, in addition to having medicinal properties, can be consumed in salads. It contains at least 6% of asiaticoside (a component that accelerates the healing processes), from which it obtains most of its properties, which can be internal and external, among which we can mention:
Internal Properties
- Treatment in cases of bronchitis.
- Prevention and treatment of anemia.
- Counteracts high blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Helps reduce anxiety.
- Increases memory and concentration.
- Recommended for the effects of premenstrual syndrome.
- It has a diuretic effect, making it an excellent detoxifier.
- Helps improve symptoms of the common cold.
- It improves venous insufficiency, which is why it is recommended for the treatment of varicose veins, phlebitis and leg cramps, since it improves microcirculation.
- It works for nerve treatments, such as premature aging, senility, and epilepsy.
- Against fatigue and tiredness.
- Increase libido.
External Properties
- Treatment of dermatitis and cellulite.
- Cure leprosy.
- Heals burn injuries.
- Wound healing and acceleration of wound healing by operations.
- Reduces stretch marks and wrinkles.
- Strengthens hair and nails.
- Grain treatment.
