If the problem is due to an infection, I'll tell you how my mother cured my sister when we were kids.
First off, my sister didn't know about the "medicine". One ear drum had burst, and she was in a lot of pain. Nothing was working, so Mom got ahold of
Granny to see if she knew any home remedy. She did. My sister says the pain was gone immeadiately, and her other ear drum didn't pop. It was a mild antiseptic. Quite a natural product. Your wife won't want to know about it, but its simple: an eyedropper of fresh warm urine.
-for what its worth.