Reciting Tehillim — Healing Through Words of Torah?

Hello, honored Rabbi shlita. How may one recite Tehillim and learn Torah for the recovery of a sick person, given that one may not heal oneself through words of Torah? And if possible, I would like to know: what are the parameters of what is forbidden, and what are the parameters of what is permitted and recommended?
Thank you.

Hello and blessings.

The common practice of the Jewish people is to permit praying in order to arouse Heavenly mercy, and not as an independent segulah as though these verses themselves constitute a cure.

The basis for the permissibility is explained in the words of Sefer HaChinuch, mitzvah 512; see the sources.

Sefer HaChinuch, Parashat Shoftim, mitzvah 512
אבל הזכירו לומר מזמורים אלו שיש בהם דברים יעוררו הנפש היודע אותם לחסות בה' ולהשים בו כל מבטחו ולקבוע בלבבו יראתו ולסמוך על חסדו וטובו, ומתוך התעוררות על זה יהיה נשמר בלי ספק מכל נזק. וזה שהשיבו בגמרא בענין זה, דקא פריך התם והיכי עביד רבי יהושע כן והאמר רבי יהושע אסור להתרפאות בדברי תורה, ואמרו להגן שאני. כלומר, לא אסרה תורה שיאמר אדם דברי תורה לעורר נפשו לטובה כדי שיגן עליו אותו הזכות לשומרו. 
“But they mentioned reciting these psalms because they contain words that will awaken the soul of one who knows them to take refuge in Hashem, to place all his trust in Him, to establish His fear in his heart, and to rely on His kindness and goodness; and through this awakening, he will undoubtedly be protected from all harm. And this is what they answered in the Gemara regarding this matter: there it asks, how could Rabbi Yehoshua have acted so, since Rabbi Yehoshua said that it is forbidden to heal oneself through words of Torah? And they answered: protection is different. That is, the Torah did not forbid a person to recite words of Torah in order to awaken his soul toward good, so that this merit should protect him and guard him.”

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