It is important that a doctor determines and treats the root cause of the problem. But until that is done, herbal and nutritional home remedies may help to alleviate the pain. Garlic is well known for its antibiotic and immune-boosting effects. It can actually cure a middle ear infection when warmed garlic oil is dripped into the ear canal. Garlic can be added to the diet in cooking and steeped in water and drunk as tea.
Garlic tea is an excellent treatment for colds and flu, as well.
Similar to garlic in its effects is Echinacea. It is taken internally as an herbal tea or in water or juice using a dropper of Echinacea tincture. Drink three times a day. Goldenseal and licorice root can be combined with Echinacea, as a tea or tinctured drink, also three times a day. Antibiotic and immune-boosting treatments such as these sometimes work better in ear infection than pharmaceuticals.