Tibetan Chicken-Blood Vine Bracelets: Benefits, Prices, and Whether They Can Touch Water

These days many people are wearing chicken-blood vine bracelets. It is said that wearing one can ward off evil and keep you safe, and that wearing it long-term also helps relax the tendons and invigorate the blood. So what benefits do chicken-blood vine bracelets have? How much does one usually cost? Can they touch water?

1. Introduction to chicken-blood vine bracelets

1. Chicken-blood vine is also called blood-activating vine, Sargentodoxa vine, blood vine, purple-stem vine, and pig-blood vine. After being sun-dried and sliced, it is a common Chinese medicinal herb with the effects of relaxing the tendons, invigorating the blood, nourishing the blood, and regulating menstruation. Chicken-blood vine can also be made into bracelets, known as vine bracelets. Vine bracelets are divided into new vine, old vine, and yin-yang vine. After cleaning and bending over heat, they become chicken-blood vine bracelets.

2. The vine bracelet is one of the oldest ornaments of the Tibetan people, called “ba” in Tibetan. Chicken-blood vine is a naturally growing plant. The most precious chicken-blood vine bracelets are made from vines that grow above 4,000 m in altitude and have been buried underground for 12 years. Today they are harvested and processed by more and more people, but because they are found in high-altitude, extremely cold regions, the yield is scarce, which makes them extremely precious and their harvesting is also restricted.

3. Chicken-blood vine bracelets are made by lamas in Tibetan areas. Worn on the wrist for a long time, they relax the meridians, invigorate the blood, and soothe joint pain. Because they come from the foot of sacred mountains, wearing them is considered very auspicious. Tibetan vine bracelets are divided into those with no nodes (“nodes” are the bumps on the vine bracelet every few cm), one node, two nodes, and many nodes. For Tibetans, the nodes of the chicken-blood vine have a special meaning. Tibetan legend says the nodes of the vine are the incarnation of a dakini, supremely sacred, able to ward off evil and keep you safe. Thus the chicken-blood vine has been passed down as jewelry.

4. Today more and more people like chicken-blood vine bracelets. As traditional objects blend with modern life, wearing one on your hand feels almost like having a faith.

2. Benefits and effects of chicken-blood vine bracelets

1. Benefit one: Because it comes from the foot of sacred mountains, it is very popular with artistic young people, and its meaning is very auspicious: it can ward off evil and keep you safe.

2. Benefit two: Worn long-term, it relaxes the meridians, invigorates the blood, nourishes the blood, and regulates menstruation, and it has a certain auxiliary effect on conditions such as rheumatic joint pain.

3. How much does a chicken-blood vine bracelet usually cost?

The quality of a chicken-blood vine bracelet depends on its thickness, appearance, number of nodes, place of origin, and color. Generally speaking, the thicker the vine, the better, because single-node vines and white vines are rare and precious, so their prices are higher. For even color, wine red is the best. Therefore chicken-blood vine bracelets range from several thousand yuan each to several tens of yuan each.

4. Can chicken-blood vine bracelets touch water?

It is best not to let chicken-blood vine bracelets touch water. If they accidentally get wet, wipe them dry immediately. Chicken-blood vine bracelets also become brighter the more you wear them. When caring for one, clean the bracelet, apply an appropriate amount of rapeseed oil or olive oil to the body of the bracelet, and store it in a sealed bag.

5. How to care for a chicken-blood vine bracelet?

1. During the first half month of wearing a chicken-blood vine bracelet, try to take it off when showering. First, hot water makes the opening of the vine bracelet expand easily; second, substances such as shampoo and body wash make the vine bracelet dry out easily, causing its color to turn gray, look less beautiful, and develop a patina slowly.

2. Apply oil regularly at ordinary times. Put a drop of olive oil or other vegetable oil on a paper towel or towel, wipe the chicken-blood vine bracelet all over, and then wear it!

3. Chicken-blood vine bracelets become brighter the more you wear them, so wearing one often is also a form of care. After contact with the skin, it gradually develops a patina, the non-smooth surface is gradually smoothed down, and only after the bracelet has gone through day after day does its color become ruddy.

4. If you do not wear it normally or the weather is especially dry, you can apply an appropriate amount of vegetable oil or olive oil to the body of the bracelet and store it in a sealed bag.

5. If a chicken-blood vine bracelet is cared for well, it will become brighter the more you wear it, and in the end it will show a bright brownish red like chicken blood.

As a traditional ornament, the chicken-blood vine bracelet has an auspicious meaning. It can also ward off evil and keep you safe, and it has a certain auxiliary effect on some illnesses. Today there are many vine bracelets of different sizes on the market. Generally, the rather thin ones cost around several tens to over a hundred, so do not buy one at too high a price.