What does BOV +X for Y Seconds really do?

[pcm2a]

So I just got this new skill Blessing of Vitality. It does a party buff and a self buff.

An example of the self buff reads: +8 for 12 seconds.

Plus 8 what?

The party buff does what it says and adjusts my stats window accordingly. I see no change in the stats window with the self buff.

[Inoya]

The self buff increases your armor and it should show this in the stat window.