From the Ayurvedic point of view, most depression is a dosha imbalance that is the culmination of kapha, vata and then pitta going out of balance. Initially the brain’s electrochemistry has an erratic overreaction (vata imbalance), which triggers a loss of enzymatic activity in the metabolism (pitta imbalance). Kapha responds by trying to glue everything down, bringing about heaviness, darkness, and stagnation that the mind-body interprets as the negative message of hopelessness and depression. In other words, because of specific etiological factors, vata from the colon, pitta from the intestine, or kapha from the stomach enters the general circulation and lodges in the nervous system, interferes with normal functioning of the mind and nervous system, and causes depression.
Sometimes depression is a pitta disorder. Allergies and the breakdown in metabolic processes they lead to disturb brain chemistry. This can cause dramatic mood swings, with depression as one of the consequences. Vata imbalance also can cause depression.
By panchkarma therapies natural equilibrium of Mansika doshas (satva, rajas and tamas) is achieved and along with dosha balance at the bodily level helps to cure depression and anxiety disorders.