If you get an onion, cut it in half, microwave it, then lay your head on the open side it kind of helps. I used to get ear infections a lot.. I don't think it really "cures" it but it helps reduce the pain and the steam kind of cleans your ear out.
Also a damp piece of bread in your ear will help if it is bacterial. After all as gross as it sounds bread mold is how penicillin is made. It is basically a low tech version of what the doctor would give you anyway and probably the only option presented that will actually fight the infection vs relieve pain.