Soothing friend is eccentric - i.e. vital (10)

I believe the answer is:

palliative

'soothing' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'friend is eccentric i e vital' is the wordplay.
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'is eccentric' is an anagram indicator.
'i'+'e'+'vital'='ievital'
'ievital' is an anagram of 'liative'.
'pal'+'liative'='PALLIATIVE'

(Another definition for palliative that I've seen is " Pain-relieving - a vital pile (anag)".)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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